ROOM
103
Space Lounge
W
ow! I don’t know about you but I have
to admit that “Wow” is the word that
came to mind when I saw this image of
Jupiter when it was released by NASA
on 25 May 2017. Just, Wow!
After that came the reality check of how
incredible this picture of Jupiter is on so many
levels. Everything from how cool it is that we
can design and build and launch a spacecraft that
travelled hundreds of millions of miles for five
years to arrive at a precise location in our Solar
System; that this spacecraft is now in a polar
orbit of Jupiter and is close enough every 53 days
to collect scientific data with its eight science
instruments and images with the public outreach
camera called JunoCam; and that while it’s still
out there orbiting Jupiter we can receive all these
wonderful data and images back here on Earth!
Images like the view of Jupiter’s south pole.
As someone that is continually amazed by the
beautiful intersection between art and science,
this picture presents the art of our universe
‘The Ancient Dance of
Europa and Jupiter’ (60” x
48” acrylic on canvas) by
Lucy West and (right) her
painting inspired by the
Juno Mission - ‘Intrepid
Explorer: New
Understandings’ (10”x10”
acrylic on wood panel).
in a simply stunning, mesmerizing and mind
boggling way!
I think we’d all agree that pictures of Jupiter
have never disappointed. I’m pretty sure we all
have vivid impressions of the Great Red Spot
and the ribbons of swirling colours that seem
to blanket the giant planet, but this one new
image has given us a whole new perspective on
the planet. A translucent and almost crystalline
looking view of the south pole.
This new view of a planet in our Solar System is
such a wonderful example of the art of our universe
- a view of nature that continues to surprise us
with its beauty and complexity. This is a beauty that
helps our brains wrap around and perhaps make
some kind of connection with these far-off places,
whilst also helping us better understand them from
a scientific perspective.
The wonders and mystery of Jupiter have
long inspired many to creatively and artistically
express their impressions of the planet. I’ve
had the pleasure of getting to know the space
Space for art
a universe of inspiration
This one new
image has
given us a
whole new
perspective on
the planet
NASA/JPL-Caltech/SwRI/MSSS/Betsy Asher Hall/Gervasio Robles
ROOM’s
‘Space for Art’ column by astronaut Nicole Stott is dedicated to the
inspiration that comes from the interaction between space and art. In this
issue she casts an inspirational eye over the wonderful imagery that is being
returned from Jupiter by NASA’s Juno probe.
Nicole Stott
Artist, Astronaut and
SciArt Advocate
