Astronomy Pic, Week 36

[MAllen82]

 

[MAllen82]

Explanation: Gas giant Jupiter is the solar system's largest world with about 320 times the mass of planet Earth. Famous for its Great Red Spot, Jupiter is also known for its regular, equatorial cloud bands, visible in very modest sized telescopes. The dark belts and light-colored zones of Jupiter's cloud bands are organized by planet girdling winds which reach speeds of up to 500 kilometers per hour. On toward the Jovian poles though, the cloud structures become more mottled and convoluted until, as in this Cassini spacecraft mosaic of Jupiter, the planet's polar region begins to look something like a brain! This striking equator-to-pole change in cloud patterns is not presently understood but may be due in part to the effect of Jupiter's rapid rotation or to convection vortices generated at high latitudes by the massive planet's internal heat loss. The Cassini spacecraft this dramatically detailed view of Jupiter in 2000 December during its turn of the millennium flyby enroute to Saturn.


Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff (MTU) & Jerry Bonnell (USRA)

 

[pepperman]

Mark, another awesomely cool pic. :Beer

 

[MAllen82]

If I've done my math correctly, I believe that each one of these "dots" (they are really big hurricanes) are as big as our planet is. Pretty amazing stuff.

 

[pepperman]

:I it is amazing stuff, did you study this in college.

 

[MAllen82]

Yes, but most of what I have learned is on my own. Space has always fascinated me. I'm going to be finishing my degree in Physics, going for my MS as well, so that I can someday apply to be an astronaut. Don't worry, if I ever go to space, I'll give all kinds of mad props to the LVC.

 

[pepperman]

Cool , when you do go into space i will be watching the TV to see it. :biggrin:

 

[Joeychgo]

Don't worry, if I ever go to space, I'll give all kinds of mad props to the LVC.

Maybe plant the LVC Flag on the Moon? I could get you an LVC Mission Patch to wear!

 

[MAllen82]

LOL, sounds good to me.

 

[Conti94]

Thats some cool stuff. :zgreenbou

 

[JoeyLincolnMK8]

that is an awesome pic!

 

[bigdog1279]

that is cool

that is realy awsome realy awsome man