The Jupiter environment promised during WWDC 2025 has finally shown up on Apple Vision Pro with the release candidate of visionOS 26. Here's how the interactive environment works.
Apple offers several immersive environments for users to dial into as they work on Apple Vision Pro. Most are static scenes with mild animations and audio, while others have more moving elements and even rain.
The Jupiter environment is unique as the first truly interactive immersive environment from Apple. This isn't a first for Apple Vision Pro, as the Bikini Bottom environment from Paramount and the Avenger's Tower environment from Disney also have interactive elements.
That said, it's quite interesting what Apple has done with Jupiter. It's a kind of call back to an early feature of Apple Watch aptly called "Time Travel."
The Jupiter environment has users placed on the moon Amalthea facing the gas giant. Navigate to the control center to open up an "Explore Jupiter" option, which shows a small control panel.
Select a time of day or grab a slider to move forward or back in time. The sun and stars swirl around the user as time passes — it's quite the cinematic effect.
A control panel lets the user control time from Jupiter's moon
Apple animated 3D versions of the other visible moons, some of which pass between Amalthea and Jupiter, which is a fun effect. There are options to have time flow normally, faster, or pause all movement.
It's tough to say whether the environment actually reflects the 10-hour day of Jupiter, but it seems to be the case. When at regular speed, there's a near imperceptible motion as the moon swings through its orbit around Jupiter.
The nerd in me makes me wonder about the science behind this spatial environment. The potato-shaped moon is the third closest to Jupiter and takes about 12 hours to complete one orbit.
So, it seems reasonable that whatever snapshot of time Apple's animators chose for this day on the moon isn't a terrible representation. Of course, it's all just for fun as an environment, so it's best not to think too hard about it.
My only complaint about this magnificent environment is having Jupiter front and center right where my windows will be open. I've taken to recentering the environment on my right so I can look over at the planet easily.
Apple will release the public version of visionOS 26 on September 15. The update brings spatial widgets among other useful features, and will automatically install.
