NASA's Juno Probe Captures a Spooky "Face" on Jupiter
The photograph reveals turbulent storms and swirling clouds along Jupiter's terminator, the boundary between its day and night sides, casting an uncanny appearance akin to a ghostly visage.
NASA's Juno spacecraft has captured a haunting image of Jupiter that appears to depict a creepy "face" on the gas giant's surface. This otherworldly image was taken during Juno's 54th close flyby of Jupiter on September 7, 2023, and showcases a region known as Jet N7, located in the far northern regions of the planet.
The photograph reveals turbulent storms and swirling clouds along Jupiter's terminator, the boundary between its day and night sides, casting an uncanny appearance akin to a ghostly visage. The low angle of sunlight accentuates the intricate topography of features within this area, aiding scientists in their quest to understand Jupiter's complex atmospheric processes.
The phenomenon seen in this image is pareidolia, where observers discern familiar patterns, such as faces, in random shapes and structures. This psychological effect often occurs when viewing celestial bodies from space, and in this case, it has given Jupiter a rather ghoulish guise.