May 23, 2017
Another birthday means another year in which the universe got to experience itself through your particular combination of wonder and will.
Approaching Jupiter
Birthday · May 23, 2017
A little universe, just for you
Your date.
Ready to give.
Free PNG · 1080 × 1350 · No account needed
Image rights and credit requirements apply when sharing or reusing imagery.
Date & occasion only
Change the year
APOD published May 23, 2017 · Video still. Credit: Peter Ros�n et al.; Music: The Awakening by Clemens Ruh. A publication-date match, not a photo taken on your date. Independent of NASA.
What would it look like to approach Jupiter? To help answer this, a team of 91 amateur astrophotographers took over 1,000 pictures of Jupiter from the Earth with the resulting images aligned and digitally merged into the featured time-lapse video. Image taking began in 2014 December and lasted just over three months. The resulting fictitious approach sequence has similarities to what was seen by NASA's robotic Juno spacecraft as it first approached the Jovian world last July. The video begins with Jupiter appearing as a small orb near the image center. As Jupiter nears from below, the planet looms ever larger while the rotation of its cloud bands becomes apparent. Jupiter's shrinking Great Red Spot rotates into view twice, at times showing unusual activity. Many white ovals are visible moving around the giant planet. The video ends as the imaginary spacecraft passes over Jupiter's North Pole.
Image credit: Peter Ros�n et al.; Music: The Awakening by Clemens Ruh