What can Jupiter’s clouds tell us about its atmosphere?
Jupiter’s is known for its striking bright zones, dark belts, and enormous storms, but the clouds hide much of what is happening beneath them. How can scientists investigate the processes shaping these features? NASA’s Juno spacecraft uses instruments that peer below the cloud tops. Its data show that the jet streams separating Jupiter’s bands extend about 2,000 miles (3,200 kilometers) down, with ammonia gas moving up and down in alignment with them. Juno has also found that the planet’s storms reach deep into the atmosphere. Cyclones are warmer at the top and colder at the bottom, while anticyclones show the opposite pattern. Some storms extend about 60 miles (100 kilometers) below the clouds; the Great Red Spot reaches more than 200 miles (350 kilometers) down. Gravity measurements suggest it extends about 300 miles (500 kilometers) below the cloud tops. These observations help scientists understand the hidden atmospheric processes behind Jupiter’s striking appearance. Read MoreFind all the latest news on Jupiter's moons, including the search for life on Europa, here.
Latest News About Jupiter
Jupiter uses a surprisingly complex system to fend off particles from the sun
September 21, 2026
A new study shows the most detailed observations to date of the bow shock at Jupiter. Read more
Giant exoplanet around white dwarf may reveal Jupiter’s fate billions of years from now
July 6, 2026
Results from JWST provide a window into the ultimate fate of giant planets orbiting stars with masses similar to our Sun. Read more
Jupiter is much more complicated than previously thought, says NASA
May 12, 2026
The latest word from the Juno mission reveals new details Jupiter's complex interior structure. Read more
Subaru Telescope sheds light on Jupiter Trojan asteroids' color mystery
April 10, 2026
This discovery provides an important clue to understanding the origin and evolution of these enigmatic objects. Read more
How Jupiter cultivated more large moons than Saturn
April 7, 2026
The answer may lie in the strength of their magnetic fields. Read more
Lightning on Jupiter could be up to 1 million times stronger than on Earth
March 26, 2026
Could the key difference be hydrogen versus nitrogen atmospheres, or are storms are taller on Jupiter? Read more
Real NASA space telescope data creates soundtracks for Jupiter, Saturn and Uranus
March 2, 2026
From crackling auroras to sweeping rings, the solar system gets a new soundtrack. Read more
Jupiter is smaller and more squashed than we thought, says NASA
February 12, 2026
NASA's Juno spacecraft reveals the gas giant isn't as big as we thought. Read more
Mysterious polar weather on Jupiter and Saturn could be key to understanding their insides
January 23, 2026
"I don't think anyone's made this connection between the surface fluid pattern and the interior properties of these planets." Read more
Jupiter has more oxygen than the sun, new simulations reveal
January 16, 2026
"It really shows how much we still have to learn about planets, even in our own solar system." Read more
Without Jupiter, Earth may have spiraled into the sun long ago
October 24, 2025
"Jupiter didn't just become the biggest planet — it set the architecture for the whole inner solar system." Read more
Simulation reveals uneven water distribution in Jupiter's turbulent atmosphere
September 29, 2025
Caltech researchers have developed a new simulation of the hydrological cycle on Jupiter Read more
Jupiter is smaller and more squashed than we thought
September 12, 2025
The gas giant has been measured for the first time in decades, trimming 8 kilometres from its diameter. Read more
NASA study: celestial ‘accident’ sheds light on Jupiter, Saturn riddle
September 9, 2025
An unusual cosmic object is helping scientists better understand the chemistry in Jupiter and Saturn’s atmospheres. Read more
'Alien auroras' on Jupiter reveal a new kind of plasma wave, scientists say
August 25, 2025
The result is thanks to the Jupiter-orbiting Juno spacecraft. Read more
Jupiter was formerly twice its current size and had a much stronger magnetic field
May 20, 2025
As the solar system's 'architect,' understanding Jupiter's evolution is key Read more
Webb observes dynamic infrared aurorae on Jupiter
May 13, 2025
The Jovian aurorae are hundreds of times brighter than those seen on Earth Read more
Massive Jupiter storm churns ammonia deep into planet's atmosphere
April 4, 2025
Patches of ammonia remain in the atmosphere even after the storm had passed Read more
Solar wind compresses Jupiter's magnetosphere
April 3, 2025
New observations reveal an enormous heated region created by the phenomenon Read more
Surprising 'shapes' discovered near Jupiter’s Great Red Spot
April 1, 2025
These new findings open a fresh perspective on Jupiter’s upper atmosphere Read more
An amateur astronomer used an old technique to study Jupiter — and found something strange
January 9, 2025
JWST spies a mysterious asteroid-comet hybrid lurking past Jupiter
December 24, 2024
The unusual "centaur," named 2060 Chiron, has features of both comets and asteroids Read more
Do magnetic tornadoes drive dark ovals on Jupiter?
December 1, 2024
Scientists discovered Earth-sized dark ovals near Jupiter’s poles Read more
Jupiter's Great Red Spot is being squeezed, Hubble Telescope finds — and nobody knows why
October 10, 2024
Jupiter's famous spot has been under constant observation since the 19th century, but this new development is unprecedented. Read more
Study shows how amateur astronomers can aid in Jupiter weather monitoring
September 5, 2024
Jupiter's weather can be observed using relatively inexpensive equipment Read more
Scientists use Jupiter to search for dark matter
August 19, 2024
The “null result” is still useful, suggesting a maximum size for dark matter particles Read more
Does Jupiter protect Earth from asteroids and comets?
July 30, 2024
Jupiter has been considered our biggest ally, but recent research has contradicted this reputation Read more
NASA’s Juno mission captures the colorful and chaotic clouds of Jupiter
July 19, 2024
It provides a detailed view of an area known as a folded filamentary region Read more
Fascinating Facts About Jupiter
Compare Jupiter to Earth
Jupiter vs Earth
- If the sun were as tall as a typical front door, the Earth would be the size of a nickel and Jupiter would be about as big as a basketball.
- From Jupiter’s surface, the Sun appears about one-fifth as large as it does from Earth and sunlight appears about 27 times dimmer.
- Jupiter spins on its axis in about 10 hours; this is the shortest spin time of any of the other planets.
- Jupiter is two times more massive than all the other planets combined.
- The planet’s magnetic field at the cloud tops is about 14 times stronger than Earth’s magnetic field measured at its surface.
- Jupiter emits about 1.6 times the energy it receives from the Sun. This energy is thought to come from the continued cooling of the planet after its gravitational collapse during the formation of the solar system. Because of this, the weather on the planet is internally driven: it depends on the energy emitted by the planet itself. On the other hand, the weather on Earth is externally driven, by the sun.
- If Jupiter was 80 times more massive than its current size, it would have become a star.
- The Great Red Spot is a giant hurricane-like storm that has been monitored since 1830 but it has possibly existed for more than 350 years.
Missions
Europa Clipper (2024-Present)
Mission to determine if Europa has conditions suitable to support life
Juno (2011-Present)
Mission to understand origin and evolution of Jupiter, look for solid planetary core, study magnetic field and atmosphere and observe auroras
Voyager 1 & 2 (1977)
Mission to explore Jupiter and Saturn, but later extended to Uranus and Neptune as well
Pioneer 10 & 11 (1972-1973)
Jupiter flyby and continued mission to explore the outer solar system
Galileo (1989-2003)
Mission to study Jupiter and its moons