Getting a good look at Jupiter's poles

Jupiter really is one of the coolest planets in the solar system.

Not only is it the biggest planet and has dozens and dozens of moons, it is one of the most colorful planets, too.

As we all know, the giant planet's red, yellow and white cloud bands race around the globe at great speed. We can see them in even the smallest telescopes: hints of milky white and bronze encircling the orb, kind of like the swirly bands on a marble.

Believe it or not, the one thing we haven't gotten to have a good look at is Jupiter's polar regions. However, thanks to NASA's Jupiter orbiter, Juno, we've finally gotten a good look at the very northern and southern regions of the King of Planets.

What Juno has revealed to us about Jupiter's north polar region is nothing short of startlingly beautiful and magnificent: A grand vista of swirling blue towers rising above lower portions of the planet's vast atmosphere.

The towers are thought to be elevated thunderstorms, rising high above the planet's gaseous plains. We know this because these clouds cast shadows on the ones below.

Story continues below video

And unlike Saturn, there is no mysterious hexagonal cloud pattern surrounding the pole. Why this is the case is unknown; perhaps Juno will reveal more information about this as the mission continues along.

Juno has also been able to take infrared photos at Jupiter's south pole. These photos show absolutely gigantic auroras that have been speculated about but had never actually been seen.

We have gleaned all this information from only one orbital fly-by of Jupiter. And the best part is, there are 35 more fly-bys to go.

This ride is just beginning. Soon we will know more about Jupiter than ever before.

Joe Malan attended Valparaiso University from 2004-08, where he conducted observatory and planetarium shows for the public. Email him at jmalan@enidnews.com.

Source: Getting a good look at Jupiter's poles