Unlocking Jupiter's Secrets: NASA's Juno Mission Redefines the Solar System's Largest Planet

NASA's Juno mission has redefined the size and shape of Jupiter, revealing the solar system's largest planet is slightly smaller and more squashed than previously thought, according to data published in the February 2, 2026, issue of Nature Astronomy by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California. This insight from the ongoing Juno spacecraft, orbiting Jupiter since 2016, highlights how gravitational forces and rapid rotation flatten the gas giant, offering new models for planetary formation across the solar system.

In lunar science advancements, NASA delayed the Step-2 proposal deadline for its Payloads and Research Investigations on the Surface of the Moon program, or PRISM, to February 27, 2026. This extension, announced in ROSES-2025 Amendment 45, allows researchers to refine budgets and plans for science payloads targeting lunar south pole sites, excluding the north pole. These instruments will support planetary science, Earth science, and exploration goals, delivered via Commercial Lunar Payload Services landers, signaling growing momentum for sustained Moon investigations.

Artemis II preparations underscore US leadership in planetary exploration. After a fuel test at Kennedy Space Center in Florida faced cold weather delays on February 2, NASA now eyes March for the next launch window, following repairs and data analysis. The mission will send four astronauts around the Moon, the first crewed lunar flyby since 1972, paving the way for Artemis III landings.

Meanwhile, NASA's Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory suspended most operations on February 11 to minimize atmospheric drag in low Earth orbit, preserving the spacecraft ahead of a summer reboost. This maneuver extends its gamma-ray burst detections, aiding planetary defense studies.

Emerging patterns show intensified focus on precise planetary measurements and lunar access. Worldwide, skywatchers note February's planetary parade, with Jupiter brightest, alongside Venus, Saturn, Mercury, Uranus, and Neptune aligning by month's end, visible after sunset from US latitudes. These events, per NASA skywatching tips, coincide with US missions, fostering public engagement in planetary science amid budget pressures that spared key Earth observers like EDGE and STRIVE, indirectly benefiting planetary analogs.

Such developments reveal a US-centric push toward Moon return and giant planet revelations, with global alignments enhancing observational insights.

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This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI