Juno probe at Jupiter

[Glaurung]

Here we go with another planetary exploration mission: NASA's Juno probe went into orbit around Jupiter a few days ago. The plan is to adjust the orbit closer to Jupiter in mid-October, at which point the main scientific activity will start.

More details in the usual BBC News article.

[Jubal]

It's also of course the punchline of the longest joke setup in astronomical history - Jupiter's moons having been named after his concubines/mistresses by Galileo, hence this spacecraft sent to check what's going on up there being named after his wife!

[comrade_general]

Juno what I'm talking about.

[Jubal]

That's a rather shorter joke setup, but also works

[Glaurung]

And now we have the first of Juno's holiday snaps from Jupiter, via the inevitable BBC News article, including the first ever close-up views of the planet's north and south poles.