Nice Ice

Watch: NASA’s Juno mission flies by Jupiter and Ganymede

It’s the closest a spacecraft has gotten to the icy moon in 20 years.

by Jennifer Walter
Updated: 
Originally Published: 
NASA via Giphy

In June, NASA’s Juno spacecraft flew by Jupiter and its moon Ganymede. Its cameras captured the vibrant surface of the gas giant and the icy exterior of its orbiting neighbor.

It takes the spacecraft almost 15 hours to travel between the two bodies — a distance of 735,000 miles.

Ganymede’s rough, icy surface up close.

NASA/JPL-Caltech/SwRI/MSSS

The moon in full view.

NASA/JPL-Caltech/SwRI/MSSS

Jupiter’s turbulent atmosphere can be seen here in swirling colors.

NASA/JPL-Caltech/SwRI/MSSS

Up close and personal with Jupiter.

NASA/JPL-Caltech/SwRI/MSSS

Here's another shot of the gas giant's diverse, colorful regions.

NASA/JPL-Caltech/SwRI/MSSS

Juno is set to stay in space until 2025. In due time, we’ll probably see even more stunning imagery of the gas giant and its moons.

Read more stories about space here.