iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

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Robert "The Bobby Yaga" McNees @mcnees.bsky.social · 05/03/2026

Voyager 1 made its closest approach to Jupiter #OTD in 1979, passing just 172,000 miles above the planet's cloud tops. This 3 minute exposure, taken from Jupiter's night side, shows aurora over the north pole and bright spots which are thought to be JOVIAN LIGHTNING. 🧪 🔭 Image: NASA/JPL

A black and white image of the night side of Jupiter. The curve of the planet in the upper-right corner shows a dim aurora. Bright spots of lightning are in the center of the frame.

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Robert "The Bobby Yaga" McNees @mcnees.bsky.social · 05/03/2026

Yes, the image is grainy. And yes, it is black and white. But imagine swinging a space robot around the far side of a distant gas giant and having it send back photos of lightning storms and aurora in 1979.

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Tod Lauer @todlauer.bsky.social · 05/03/2026

I remember that from the time. It was spectacular and imaginative. And hey!! They discovered that Jupiter had rings by looking back on the night side! That was a real shock!

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