                        Astronomy Picture of the Day

    Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our
      fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation
                    written by a professional astronomer.

                               2024 November 3
    Swirling clouds on the planet Jupiter are pictured, mostly in white,
    tan, and light blue. A dark spot appears in the center surrounded by
     swirling white and blue clouds. Please see the explanation for more
                            detailed information.

                                Jupiter Abyss
     Image Credit: NASA, Juno, SwRI, MSSS; Processing & License: Gerald
                           Eichstädt & Sean Doran

   Explanation: What's that black spot on Jupiter? No one is sure. During
   one pass of NASA's Juno over Jupiter, the robotic spacecraft imaged an
   usually dark cloud feature informally dubbed the Abyss. Surrounding
   cloud patterns show the Abyss to be at the center of a vortex. Since
   dark features on Jupiter's atmosphere tend to run deeper than light
   features, the Abyss may really be the deep hole that it appears -- but
   without more evidence that remains conjecture. The Abyss is surrounded
   by a complex of meandering clouds and other swirling storm systems,
   some of which are topped by light colored, high-altitude clouds. The
   featured image was captured in 2019 while Juno passed only about 15,000
   kilometers above Jupiter's cloud tops. The next close pass of Juno near
   Jupiter will be in about three weeks.

                     Tomorrow's picture: orion the great
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       Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff (MTU) & Jerry Bonnell (UMCP)
            NASA Official: Amber Straughn Specific rights apply.
                  NASA Web Privacy, Accessibility, Notices;
                      A service of: ASD at NASA / GSFC,
                           NASA Science Activation
                             & Michigan Tech. U.

