Moon Shadow on Jupiter
Explanation:
What is that large dark spot on Jupiter?
It's the shadow of
Io, one of
Jupiter's largest moons.
When Jupiter's moons cross between the Jovian giant and the Sun, they
created shadows
just like when the
Earth's
moon crosses between the Earth and the Sun.
Also like on Earth, if you were in a
dark shadow on Jupiter,
you would see a moon completely
eclipse the Sun.
Unlike on Earth,
moon shadows
occur most days on Jupiter -- what's
more unusual is that a spacecraft was close enough to record one with a
high-resolution
image.
That spacecraft, Juno, was passing so close to
Jupiter
in late February that nearby clouds and the dark eclipse shadow appear
relatively large.
Juno has made many discoveries about our
Solar System's largest planet, including, recently,
rapidly expanding circular auroras.
Explore Your Universe:
Random APOD Generator
Authors & editors:
Robert Nemiroff
(MTU) &
Jerry Bonnell
(USRA)
NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings,
and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris.
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rights apply.
A service of:
LHEA at
NASA /
GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.