NASA Releases Spooky Image of ‘Face’ on Jupiter
Just in time for Halloween, NASA has shared an eerie image of a ghoulish-looking ‘face’ on Jupiter. The photo was taken by NASA’s Juno probe during its 54th close flyby of the gas giant last month. The image showcases Jupiter’s moody clouds forming an unusual pattern that creates the appearance of contorted eyes, nose, and a mouth. Adding to the creepiness, half of the image is in darkness on the planet’s night side, making it seem as though the face is peering out from behind a door.
The release of the image on October 25 was also significant as it would have been Picasso’s 142nd birthday, highlighting the resemblance of the image to a Cubist portrait with “multiple perspectives of a face,” according to NASA.
Jupiter is the largest planet in our solar system and is primarily composed of hydrogen and helium, with some heavy elements. Its atmosphere is filled with cold, windy clouds of ammonia and water, creating the planet’s iconic stripes and swirls. Jupiter’s Great Red Spot, a giant storm bigger than Earth, has been raging for hundreds of years. The planet’s sheer size is exemplified by the fact that it is twice as large as all the other planets combined.
Juno, the spacecraft responsible for capturing the image, has been exploring Jupiter since reaching the planet in 2016. Its mission aims to study the composition of Jupiter, assess its polar magnetosphere, gravity field, and magnetic field, as well as monitor its atmosphere, weather, and moons.
Although this is not the first time Juno has produced such an image, it often leads to a phenomenon known as pareidolia, where the human brain perceives faces in random patterns. Citizen scientist Vladimir Tarasov spotted these particular “facial features” amidst Jupiter’s storm clouds, creating the resemblance of eyes, a nose, and a sad smile.
As its mission continues until 2025, Juno will provide further insights into Jupiter’s composition and secrets, while continuing to capture awe-inspiring images of the enigmatic gas giant.