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Dolphins in the Jovian clouds among the most astonishing Jupiter images of 2018

By Rich Haridy
December 04, 2018
Dolphins in the Jovian clouds among the most astonishing Jupiter images of 2018
A dolphin in the clouds of Jupiter, among the best images of the massive planet captured in 2018
A dolphin in the clouds of Jupiter, among the best images of the massive planet captured in 2018
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Juno captured the data during its 16th flyby on October 29, 2018
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Juno captured the data during its 16th flyby on October 29, 2018
A dolphin in the clouds of Jupiter, among the best images of the massive planet captured in 2018
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A dolphin in the clouds of Jupiter, among the best images of the massive planet captured in 2018
Citizen scientists Brian Swift and Seán Doran created this image using data from the spacecraft's JunoCam imager
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Citizen scientists Brian Swift and Seán Doran created this image using data from the spacecraft's JunoCam imager
A multitude of magnificent, swirling clouds in Jupiter's dynamic North North Temperate Belt is captured in this image from NASA's Juno spacecraft. Appearing in the scene are several bright-white “pop-up” clouds as well as an anticyclonic storm, known as a white oval
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A multitude of magnificent, swirling clouds in Jupiter's dynamic North North Temperate Belt is captured in this image from NASA's Juno spacecraft. Appearing in the scene are several bright-white “pop-up” clouds as well as an anticyclonic storm, known as a white oval
This color-enhanced image was taken at 7:13 p.m. PDT on Sept. 6, 2018 (10:13 p.m. EDT) as the spacecraft performed its 15th close flyby of Jupiter. At the time, Juno was about 55,600 miles (89,500 kilometers) from the planet's cloud tops
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This color-enhanced image was taken at 7:13 p.m. PDT on Sept. 6, 2018 (10:13 p.m. EDT) as the spacecraft performed its 15th close flyby of Jupiter. At the time, Juno was about 55,600 miles (89,500 kilometers) from the planet's cloud tops
Clouds in a Jovian jet stream, called Jet N5, swirl in the center of this color-enhanced image
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Clouds in a Jovian jet stream, called Jet N5, swirl in the center of this color-enhanced image
The image was taken at 10 p.m. PDT on July 15, 2018 (1 a.m. EDT on July 16), as the spacecraft performed its 14th close flyby of Jupiter. At the time, Juno was about 10,600 miles (17,000 kilometers) from the planet's cloud tops, above a latitude of 59 degrees
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The image was taken at 10 p.m. PDT on July 15, 2018 (1 a.m. EDT on July 16), as the spacecraft performed its 14th close flyby of Jupiter. At the time, Juno was about 10,600 miles (17,000 kilometers) from the planet's cloud tops, above a latitude of 59 degrees
This natural color view offers an approximation of what Jupiter would look like to human eyes from Juno’s vantage point near the time of closest approach in its orbit
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This natural color view offers an approximation of what Jupiter would look like to human eyes from Juno’s vantage point near the time of closest approach in its orbit
This image captures a high-altitude cloud formation surrounded by swirling patterns in the atmosphere of Jupiter's North Temperate Belt region
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This image captures a high-altitude cloud formation surrounded by swirling patterns in the atmosphere of Jupiter's North Temperate Belt region
Citizen scientists Gerald Eichstädt and Seán Doran created this image using data from the spacecraft’s JunoCam imager
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Citizen scientists Gerald Eichstädt and Seán Doran created this image using data from the spacecraft’s JunoCam imager
This new perspective of Jupiter from the south makes the Great Red Spot appear as though it is in northern territory. This view is unique to Juno
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This new perspective of Jupiter from the south makes the Great Red Spot appear as though it is in northern territory. This view is unique to Juno
The color-enhanced image is a combination of three separate images taken on April 1 between 3:09 a.m. PDT (6:09 a.m. EDT) and 3:24 a.m. PDT (6:24 a.m. EDT), as Juno performed its 12th close flyby of Jupiter
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The color-enhanced image is a combination of three separate images taken on April 1 between 3:09 a.m. PDT (6:09 a.m. EDT) and 3:24 a.m. PDT (6:24 a.m. EDT), as Juno performed its 12th close flyby of Jupiter
Citizen scientist Kevin M. Gill processed this image using data from the JunoCam imager
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Citizen scientist Kevin M. Gill processed this image using data from the JunoCam imager
The original image captures a close-up view of numerous storms in the northern hemisphere of Jupiter. To produce this artwork, Rick Lundh selected a more contrasting part of one of Jupiter’s storms, then cropped the image and applied an oil-painting filter
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The original image captures a close-up view of numerous storms in the northern hemisphere of Jupiter. To produce this artwork, Rick Lundh selected a more contrasting part of one of Jupiter’s storms, then cropped the image and applied an oil-painting filter
At the time the image was taken, the spacecraft was about 5,086 miles (8,186 kilometers) from the tops of the clouds of the planet at a latitude of 39.9 degrees
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At the time the image was taken, the spacecraft was about 5,086 miles (8,186 kilometers) from the tops of the clouds of the planet at a latitude of 39.9 degrees
The spatial scale in this image is 5.6 miles/pixel (9.1 kilometers/pixel)
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The spatial scale in this image is 5.6 miles/pixel (9.1 kilometers/pixel)
Taken during Juno's 13th flyby
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Taken during Juno's 13th flyby
Another view of the infamous dolphin
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Another view of the infamous dolphin
Taken during Juno's 16th flyby
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Taken during Juno's 16th flyby
A remarkable shot featuring both the dolphin cloud and Jupiter's moon Io rising in the background
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A remarkable shot featuring both the dolphin cloud and Jupiter's moon Io rising in the background
A stunningly detailed image processed by citizen scientist Kevin M. Gill
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A stunningly detailed image processed by citizen scientist Kevin M. Gill
A newly processed image created from older Juno data
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A newly processed image created from older Juno data
Created from data obtained during Juno's 14th Jupiter flyby
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Created from data obtained during Juno's 14th Jupiter flyby
A remarkable image released in August of this year from Kevin M. Gill, one of the best image processors around
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A remarkable image released in August of this year from Kevin M. Gill, one of the best image processors around
View gallery - 24 images

Jupiter, the largest planet in our solar system, has recently delivered a mind-bending torrent of amazing images, thanks to the work of citizen scientists creatively processing the trove of data from the Juno probe. Over the past twelve months we have been treated to some of the best images of the gas giant to date, including a magnificent shot of a cloud in the shape of a dolphin, swimming over the Jovian surface.

After arriving at Jupiter in 2016, NASA's Juno probe has delivered a magnificent array of both hard scientific data and spectacular imagery. The mission, initially scheduled to end mid-2018 was extended this year through to 2022.

This new perspective of Jupiter from the south makes the Great Red Spot appear as though it is in northern territory. This view is unique to Juno
This new perspective of Jupiter from the south makes the Great Red Spot appear as though it is in northern territory. This view is unique to Juno

One of the most novel aspects of the Juno mission was its recruitment of the general public to assist in creatively processing the images captured by JunoCam. As well as offering all the raw photographic data to the public, the JunoCam program allows the public to vote on specific image targets for each orbital pass.

This year has delivered up a brilliant assortment of creatively processed images from citizen scientists who have taken the raw JunoCam data. One of the more recent Juno flybys of Jupiter captured an image of a truly bizarre shaped cloud which the image processing community quickly jumped on. Seen along the South South Temperate Belt, during Juno's 16th flyby on October 29, 2018, a cloud precisely shaped like a dolphin appears to be swimming along the surface of the planet.

A remarkable shot featuring both the dolphin cloud and Jupiter's moon Io rising in the background
A remarkable shot featuring both the dolphin cloud and Jupiter's moon Io rising in the background

Take a closer look at this and other astonishing shots of Jupiter captured by Juno in 2018 and processed by dedicated citizen scientists.

Source: JunoCam

View gallery - 24 images

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SpaceNASAJupiterJuno
1 comment
Rich Haridy
Rich Haridy
Rich has written for a number of online and print publications over the last decade while also acting as film critic for several radio broadcasters and podcasts. His interests focus on psychedelic science, new media, and science oddities. Rich completed his Masters degree in the Arts back in 2013 before joining New Atlas in 2016.

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Aladdin Connolly
So long and thanks for all the fish...