Jupiter is a massive, terrifying planet that still holds secrets

Space · Published 26 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Despite centuries of study and nine space probes visiting in just 50 years, Jupiter remains an enigma. It is the undisputed king of our solar system, yet it continues to hide mysteries from us, challenging our understanding of how our planetary neighborhood actually formed.

Scientists believe that studying Jupiter is essential to unlocking the origins of our solar system. Current theories suggest the gas giant was not always in its current position; during its youth, it moved throughout the solar system. This migration had profound consequences, including disrupting the formation of Mars and influencing both the location and composition of the asteroid belt. These movements during its early life are central to understanding the solar system's formation. The planet's migration is a key piece of evidence for how our celestial neighborhood was shaped.

Our direct understanding began in the early 1970s with the Pioneer 10 and 11 missions, which reached the planet between late 1973 and early 1974. These probes provided the first close-up images of the Great Red Spot and revealed that Jupiter is composed mostly of liquid. They also identified a magnetotail—an extension of its magnetic field similar to Earth's—which suggested the presence of a solid core. The probes were able to observe weather patterns from a distance of about 42,000 km. This proximity allowed for the first detailed look at the planet's atmospheric layers.

The late 1970s saw the Voyager missions, which captured over 52,000 photos and revealed lightning in Jupiter's cloud tops and hurricane-like storm systems. These missions also led to the groundbreaking discovery of active volcanoes on the moon Io, proving such geological activity exists beyond Earth. More recently, NASA’s Juno mission, which entered orbit on July 4, 2016, continues this legacy of exploration. While Voyager focused on flybys, the Galileo missions in the late 1980s utilized an orbiter and a probe to stay in orbit. This shift allowed for more sustained data collection over time.

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