Jupiter in History

Pioneer 10 crosses Jupiter's bow shock, beginning direct sampling of the Jovian magnetospheric boundary.

Pioneer measurements reveal that Jupiter possesses an extended magnetotail and a vast magnetosphere.

Pioneer 10 begins returning Jupiter images surpassing the best Earth-based views then available.

Pioneer 10 makes humanity's first close spacecraft encounter with Jupiter.

Pioneer 10 instruments confirm Jupiter's intense radiation environment.

Pioneer 11 returns the first close spacecraft views of Jupiter's polar regions.

Pioneer 11 obtains the most detailed spacecraft images then available of Jupiter's Great Red Spot.

Pioneer 11 passes closer to Jupiter than Pioneer 10 and surveys high latitudes.

Voyager 1 begins intensive approach observations of Jupiter and its satellites before closest approach.

Voyager imagery reveals extensive grooved terrain on Ganymede, demonstrating a complex geological history.

Voyager 1 obtains detailed images of the Great Red Spot and surrounding turbulent cloud motions.

Voyager radio observations show strong electrodynamic coupling between Io and Jupiter's magnetic environment.

Voyager instruments record ultraviolet emissions associated with Jupiter's powerful auroral regions.

Leads Voyager imaging studies revealing detailed structures in Jupiter's belts, zones and storms.

Voyager observations detect lightning in Jupiter's atmosphere, demonstrating powerful electrical storms.

Voyager magnetometer measurements map Jupiter's powerful magnetic field.

Voyager energetic-particle instruments map Jupiter's magnetosphere and radiation environment.

Voyager plasma measurements characterize charged particles in Jupiter's magnetosphere.

Voyager radio measurements study Jupiter's intense natural radio emissions.

Voyager 1 imagery reveals the faint ring encircling Jupiter.

Identifies the small inner Jovian moon Metis in Voyager imagery.

Voyager 1 images show Callisto's heavily cratered and ancient surface.

Voyager 1 images reveal Europa's bright, fractured icy surface.

Voyager 1 obtains the first close spacecraft image of Amalthea, showing its elongated reddish shape.

Identifies Thebe, a small inner moon of Jupiter, in Voyager imagery.

Voyager 1 makes its closest approach to Jupiter and surveys its atmosphere, rings and moons.

Voyager 2 begins its dedicated Jupiter observation campaign during approach to the Jovian system.

Voyager 2 flies past Jupiter and extends observations of the planet and Jovian satellites.

Ulysses traverses the Io plasma torus and measures its charged-particle environment.

Ulysses flies past Jupiter while studying the planet's magnetosphere and surrounding plasma.

Leads Hubble observations documenting atmospheric scars from the Shoemaker-Levy 9 impacts on Jupiter.

Galileo observes Shoemaker-Levy 9 impacts on Jupiter's far side from a unique spacecraft viewpoint.

Fragments of Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 begin colliding with Jupiter, producing enormous atmospheric scars.

Galileo becomes the first spacecraft to enter orbit around Jupiter.

Probe data show Jupiter's atmospheric abundances differ in important ways from simple solar-composition expectations.

The Galileo atmospheric probe begins direct scientific measurements after deploying its parachute in Jupiter's atmosphere.

The Galileo atmospheric probe enters Jupiter and transmits direct measurements during its descent.

NASA approves an extended Galileo mission emphasizing repeated close encounters with Europa.

Galileo and Cassini conduct complementary observations while Cassini passes through the Jupiter system.

Cassini makes its closest approach to Jupiter while using the planet for a gravity assist to Saturn.

Galileo magnetic measurements strengthen evidence for conductive saltwater layers inside Ganymede and Callisto.

Galileo is deliberately sent into Jupiter to prevent possible contamination of Europa.

New Horizons follows Jupiter's magnetotail for roughly one hundred million miles after the flyby.

New Horizons images clumpy structures in Jupiter's faint rings and improves understanding of ring dynamics.

New Horizons obtains close views of the developing Little Red Spot and measures storm dynamics.

New Horizons uses Jupiter for a gravity assist and conducts a broad scientific survey of the system.

New Horizons detects lightning at high Jovian latitudes, extending known lightning activity toward the poles.

Juno enters a polar orbit around Jupiter after a five-year interplanetary journey.

Juno returns the first close images of Jupiter's north pole, revealing dense storm systems.

Juno completes its first close Jupiter pass with the full science instrument suite operating.

Juno microwave measurements reveal ammonia-rich structures extending far below Jupiter's visible cloud tops.

Juno measurements show Jupiter's magnetic field is stronger and more spatially irregular than expected.

Juno data reveal tightly packed giant cyclones surrounding central storms at Jupiter's poles.

Juno flies directly above the Great Red Spot to probe its structure.

Juno measurements reveal unexpected lightning signatures and improve understanding of Jovian thunderstorms.

Juno detects a new cyclone joining the geometric pattern of storms around Jupiter's south pole.

Juno observations track the persistent geometric arrangements of cyclones around Jupiter's poles.

Juno observations show Jupiter's equatorial hot spots are wider and deeper than earlier models suggested.

Juno data show the Great Red Spot extends hundreds of kilometres below Jupiter's cloud tops.

NASA reports Juno restored to normal operations after safe-mode events during its 71st close Jupiter pass.