NASA’s Juno spacecraft has captured a striking image of what the space agency describes as an “eerie face” during a recent pass of Jupiter. The image, taken in September, showcases unique cloud formations in an area known as Jet N7 in the planet’s far northern region. According to NASA, the image reveals turbulent clouds and storms along Jupiter’s terminator, the line dividing the day and night sides of the planet.
The low angle of sunlight in the image highlights the complex topography of features in this region, providing scientists with valuable insights into the processes occurring in Jupiter’s atmosphere. However, NASA is quick to explain that what appears to be a face in the image is an example of pareidolia, where observers perceive faces or patterns in random formations.
Citizen scientist Vladimir Tarasov used raw data from the JunoCam instrument to create this image. At the time the image was taken, the Juno spacecraft was approximately 4,800 miles (7,700 kilometers) above Jupiter’s cloud tops, at a latitude of around 69 degrees north.
This image is not the only unique shape captured by NASA in recent months. Around the same time, a never-before-seen photo of one of Saturn’s moons was also unveiled, featuring a distinct shape resembling various popular foods. The Cassini spacecraft photographed Pan, Saturn’s innermost moon, showcasing a flat ridge along its midpoint and surface lines that appear scraped.
These captivating images serve as a testament to the ongoing exploration and discovery within our solar system. NASA continues to provide humanity with valuable insights into the mysteries of the universe.
