Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer. Metis lies within Jupiter's faint, tenuous ring , and may be a source of ring material. Methane gas in Jupiter's atmosphere absorbs the near infrared light causing deeper clouds to appear dark at these wavelengths .
Clouds riding above most of the atmospheric methane are bright.
The circular dark spot just above the brightest cloud band is an image artifact. Specific rights apply .