The New Horizons space probe is approaching Jupiter and will reach it's closest point to the planet on Feb 28th, 2007. The probe will be considered to be 'passing' Jupiter between Jan, 2007 and June, 2007, during which time New Horizons will be making observations of the planet. The main goal in approaching Jupiter is to use the large planet's gravity to accelerate the probe up to 52,000 mph - 9,000 miles per hour faster than it is currently traveling. The probe will then continue on to Pluto and the Kuiper Belt. New Horizons is expected to reach Pluto in July, 2015.

While the New Horizons probe passes Jupiter it will be capturing some images of the planet, especially an are known as the 'little red spot', a small storm located south of Jupiter's 'Great Red Spot'. While passing Jupiter the probe will also be traveling along the planet's magnetosphere, which extends tens of millions of miles into space and is called the 'Tail'.

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