Nasa releases new maps of Jupiter {follow-up} (BBC)

[eppur_se_muova]

The US space agency (Nasa) has released the most detailed colour maps of the planet Jupiter ever produced.

The stunning maps were pieced together by researchers from images taken by the Cassini spacecraft as it approached Jupiter on 11 and 12 December 2000.

Raw images exist in only two colours so the maps were coloured to show how Jupiter would appear to the naked eye.

They consist of one cylindrical map of the planet along with north and south polar maps of Jupiter.

more: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/4860912.stm

Bear in mind that these are the images of cloud tops, so not entirely permanent features! The structure of the bands has been preserved over centuries, as has the Great Red Spot.

To see all the images, go to http://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/multimedia/images/images.cfm?subCategoryID=51

The jpeg below is at: http://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/multimedia/images/image-details.cfm?imageID=667

A HUGE jpeg of the same view is available at: http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA04866 (click on the link to the right of the thumbnail image to get a TIFF or JPEG file)

[mike_c]

1. that is just stunning....

The full res pic is incredibly detailed.

[Dudley_DUright]

2. Exceptional Resolution!

Here are some comparison photos from Hubble of the great red spot, a hurricane twice the size of earth and lasting at least since the time of Galileo. Of course, Cassini is a lot closer than Hubble is to Jupiter since Hubble is in low earth orbit.

http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap990806.html

[trotsky]

3. Awesome.

Thank you.