Jupiter's Atmosphere

Voyager 1 reached Jupiter on March 5, 1979, but as early as January, its images exceeded the quality of anything ever taken from Earth. No terrestrial-based telescope could capture the subtle swirling atmosphere seen in this Voyager 1 image. The spacecraft recorded enormous lightning storms crackling in the high atmosphere.

The first spacecraft captured 19,000 images and many other scientific measurements of Jupiter. Voyager 2 brought the total to 33,000 images. In just a few months, the twin spacecraft overturned existing theories, and raised new questions about Jupiter and its moons.

Image: NASA

(text from WIRED magazine)