PIA01990: Neptune - Dark Oval


Neptune - Dark Oval

Caption:

The large, dark oval spot in Neptune's atmosphere is just coming into view in this picture returned from the Voyager 2 spacecraft on June 30, 1989. The spacecraft was about 83 million kilometers (51.5 million miles) from Neptune. Voyager scientists are interested in the dark oval cloud system, a very large system similar to Jupiter's Great Red Spot. Contrast of the features in Neptune's atmosphere is similar to that obtained at Saturn at about this same distance and lighting, whereas the features are similar to those seen at Jupiter.

Background Info:

The Jet Propulsion Laboratory manages the Voyager Project for NASA's Office of Space Science and Applications.

Cataloging Keywords:

Name Value Additional Values
Target Neptune Jupiter, Saturn
System Jupiter, Neptune
Target Type Planet
Mission Voyager
Instrument Host Cassini Orbiter Voyager 2
Host Type Orbiter Flyby Spacecraft
Instrument Imaging Science Subsystem (ISS)
Detector
Extra Keywords Atmosphere, Grayscale, Storm
Acquisition Date
Release Date 1999-07-25
Date in Caption 1989-06-30
Image Credit NASA/JPL
Source photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA01990
Identifier PIA01990