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Left image via NASA/JPL-Caltech/SwRI/ASI/INAF/JIRAM, right image via Shutterstock

NASA has released a stunning photo of Jupiter, revealing circular patches on the planet that are actually cyclones. The image shows “lava-like” storms formed on the planet’s North Pole.

The image was taken by the Juno spacecraft, which was launched into space in 2011 to observe Jupiter from orbit. The photo was shared on NASA’s Instagram page, and while many were impressed by the snap, some commented that it looked like someone’s lunch.

“I thought this was a pepperoni pizza,” a hungry Instagram user commented. Another user joked, “Forbidden pizza.”

Alongside the image, NASA wrote, “Our James Webb Space Telescope will examine the atmosphere of Jupiter polar region, where @NASAJuno discovered the clusters of cyclones seen in this image.”



“@NASAWEBB’s data will provide much more detail than has been possible in past observations, measuring winds, cloud particles, gas composition, and temperature,” it continued.

View this post on Instagram

The floor is lava! Oh wait, nevermind, that’s just an infrared look at Jupiter’s North Pole 😉 Our James Webb Space Telescope will examine the atmosphere of Jupiter’s polar region, where @NASAJuno discovered the clusters of cyclones seen in this image. @NASAWebb's data will provide much more detail than has been possible in past observations, measuring winds, cloud particles, gas composition, and temperature. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/SwRI/ASI/INAF/JIRAM #Space #NASAJuno #TheFloorIsLava #Jupiter #PlanetaryScience

A post shared by NASA (@nasa) on Aug 8, 2020 at 12:55pm PDT

View this post on Instagram

Juno's latest close pass by Jupiter revealed a surprise: the giant planet's south pole has a new cyclone. This discovery would not have happened without the creativity and sharp thinking of the mission's navigators and engineers, who steered the spacecraft clear of a potentially mission-ending trip through Jupiter's shadow. The new, smaller cyclone can be seen at the lower right of this infrared image of Jupiter's south pole taken on Nov. 4, 2019, during Juno's 23rd science pass of the planet. See more details at the link in the bio. #NASA #space #science #Jupiter

A post shared by Mission Juno (@nasajuno) on Dec 13, 2019 at 2:55pm PST

[via International Business Times, opening image via NASA/JPL-Caltech/SwRI/ASI/INAF/JIRAM, right image via Shutterstock]

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