NASA's $1 billion probe has sent back images of Jupiter, achieving a historic first. Check out the groundbreaking photos!

The NASA spacecraft named "Juno" has completed its 66th close flyby of Jupiter, sending back a batch of stunning new images of the gas giant. For the first time in history, the NASA probe flew very close to Jupiter's poles, something no other spacecraft has ever done, reports IFLScience.

The Juno spacecraft, which cost $1 billion, completed its 66th close flyby of Jupiter on October 23, 2024, allowing it to approach the poles of the largest planet in the Solar System like never before.

Each close encounter with the planet enables the NASA probe to capture breathtaking photographs of Jupiter using the JunoCam camera. This allows scientists to gather new data about Jupiter's atmosphere, including its remarkable atmospheric storms. Additionally, other instruments on the spacecraft study Jupiter's magnetic field, the planet's gravitational influence, and the conditions in its surroundings.

Scientists receive new information not only about the planet itself but also about some of its moons. This is particularly true for the moon Io. During a recent close flyby, the Juno probe also passed closely over Amalthea, the fifth-largest moon of Jupiter, which orbits the planet closer than Io.

As a result of the latest flyby, the Juno spacecraft captured a new set of stunning images of the gas giant, which were transmitted back to Earth. However, NASA does not have a dedicated team to process the images of Jupiter taken by this probe. This work is carried out by so-called citizen scientists who collaborate with NASA.

The new images clearly show unique atmospheric storms depicted as swirling patterns. Citizen scientists intentionally assigned different colors to various sections of the planet's atmosphere to highlight their characteristics. These images reveal just how complex, variable, and turbulent the atmosphere of the gas giant truly is.

The Juno spacecraft has been orbiting Jupiter for over 3000 days. Earlier this year, the probe reduced its orbit, allowing it to make close flybys near Jupiter approximately once a month.

The next close encounter with the gas giant for the NASA probe will occur on November 25 of this year. Before its mission concludes in 2025, the Juno probe will fly close to Jupiter 10 more times. Then, during its 76th close flyby, the NASA spacecraft will enter the atmosphere of the gas giant, where it will ultimately burn up.

Currently, two spacecraft are en route to Jupiter, which are set to succeed "Juno."

The European Space Agency's spacecraft named JUICE will study the main moons of the giant planet starting in 2031. A few years after arriving at its target, this probe will be the first in history to enter orbit around a moon of another planet. In this case, it will be Ganymede, one of Jupiter's moons, around which JUICE will orbit for a year and a half.

The new NASA probe called Europa Clipper, which is the largest spacecraft in history, will arrive at Jupiter in 2030, but its primary mission is to study the moon Europa.