NASA. This map of Jupiter produced by the CASSINI spacecraft - Lot 241

NASA. This map of Jupiter produced by the CASSINI spacecraft shows the distribution of different cloud bands and storms, including the Great Red Spot, an immense storm that has been raging for centuries. The map illustrates the complexity of Jupiter's atmosphere, with extremely dynamic wind and storm systems. This map of Jupiter is the most detailed global color map of the planet ever produced. The round map is a polar stereographic projection showing the South Pole at the center of the map and the equator at the edge. It was constructed from images taken by Cassini on December 11 and 12, 2000, when the probe approached Jupiter on a flyby towards Saturn. The map shows a variety of colorful clouds, including reddish-brown and white parallel bands, the Great Red Spot, multi-lobed chaotic regions, white ovals and numerous small swirls. Many clouds appear as streaks and waves due to the continuous stretching and folding caused by Jupiter's winds and turbulence. The blue-gray features along the northern edge of the bright central band are equatorial "hot spots", weather systems such as the one captured by NASA's Galileo probe. The small points of light in the orange band north of the equator are lightning-bearing thunderstorms. The polar region shown here is less clearly visible, as Cassini observed it from a certain angle and through a thicker atmospheric haze. 2000. Vintage chromogenic print. Legend on back on label. 25.4 x 20.4CM with margins.