An image released by NASA shows Jupiter looking more like a flower bed than a huge ball of gas. The image from Juno shows the swirling cyclones on Jupiter’s north pole, which are not visible to the naked eye.
Shown in false colour – non-visible colours in the electromagnetic spectrum – the image shows tens of pink, red and purple storms which could easily fit Earth inside.
The image was initially snapped by Juno, which was launched by NASA in 2011, but the colours were modified by citizen scientist Gerald Eichstädt.
NASA explained that Mr Eichstädt created the image by combining many individual images of Jupiter’s north pole to create the stunning view.
NASA said: “Cyclones at the north pole of Jupiter appear as swirls of striking colours in this extreme false colour rendering of an image from NASA’s Juno mission.
“The huge, persistent cyclone found at Jupiter’s north pole is visible at the centre of the image, encircled by smaller cyclones that range in size from 2,500 to 2,900 miles (4,000 to 4,600 kilometres).
“Together, this pattern of storms covers an area that would dwarf the Earth.
“The colour choices in this image reveal both the beauty of Jupiter and the subtle details present in Jupiter’s dynamic cloud structure.
“Each new observation that Juno provides of Jupiter’s atmosphere complements computer simulations and helps further refine our understanding of how the storms evolve over time.
“Citizen scientist Gerald Eichstädt made this composite image using data obtained by the JunoCam instrument during four of the Juno spacecraft’s close passes by Jupiter, which took place between Feb. 17, 2020, and July 25, 2020.
“The greatly exaggerated colour is partially a result of combining many individual images to create this view.”
Storms on Jupiter have fascinated scientists since the Great Red Spot – a huge storm system which measures about 9,800 miles – was discovered by astronomer Robert Hooke in 1655.
However, since the 1930s, observations have shown the Great Red Spot is shrinking, but “its dwindling size is a complete mystery.”
Analysing previous images from Hubble, the space agency said: “Hubble shows that the Great Red Spot, rolling counterclockwise in the planet’s southern hemisphere, is plowing into the clouds ahead of it, forming a cascade of white and beige ribbons.
“The Great Red Spot is currently an exceptionally rich red colour, with its core and outermost band appearing deeper red.”