Jovian Winds

The Juno spacecraft has revealed many wonders about the planet Jupiter since its arrival in 2016. Imagery from Juno has disclosed six gigantic atmospheric cyclones near Jupiter’s south pole. The cyclones extend deep into the icy atmosphere. They are 2,500 to over 4,000 miles wide, with winds exceeding 200 miles per hour. The cyclones have been relatively stable for years. It is hypothesized that forces similar to ocean currents may explain their stability. This quilt depicts those massive cyclones with a bit of digital reinterpretation of the infrared image. Imagery courtesy of NASA/JPL-Caltech/SwRI/ASI/INAF/JIRAM. 025.