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NASA’s Juno Mission Unveils Jupiter’s Cyclone Dynamics and Io’s Subsurface Magma

New analyses reveal refined models of Jupiter's polar storms and confirm residual magma beneath Io's crust, as Juno prepares for its next flyby.

JunoCam, the visible light imager aboard NASA’s Juno, captured this enhanced-color view of Jupiter’s northern high latitudes from an altitude of about 36,000 miles (58,000 kilometers) above the giant planet’s cloud tops during the spacecraft’s 69th flyby on Jan. 28, 2025. Credit: Image data: NASA/JPL-Caltech/SwRI/MSSS Image processing: Jackie Branc (CC BY)
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Overview

  • Juno’s latest data confirms a validated jet stream model and detailed cyclone dynamics at Jupiter’s north pole, showing oscillations caused by interactions between cyclones.
  • Radio occultation experiments measured Jupiter’s north polar stratospheric cap to be 11°C cooler than its surroundings, with winds exceeding 100 mph.
  • For the first time, Juno’s instruments revealed Io’s subsurface temperature profile, indicating roughly 10% of the moon’s surface contains cooling magma beneath its crust.
  • The record-breaking volcanic eruption on Io, first detected in December 2024, remains active, with further monitoring planned during Juno's May 6 flyby.
  • Juno’s extended mission continues to provide unprecedented insights into Jupiter’s atmospheric dynamics and Io’s volcanic activity, enhancing understanding of planetary processes.