Thursday, April 02, 2009

Out damn spot.

We all know Jupiter.

More importantly, we all know that beautiful red spot.  It's an ancient storm about the size of three Earths that's been swirling about for the last three hundred years.

Winds go up to 400 miles per hour, and scientists have no idea what sustains it, what caused it, or why it's even red (cause there are times it isn't).

Well, between 1996 and 2006, the Giant Red Spot has lost 15 percent of its diameter.


It is expected that the it will become circular by around 2040.

Jupiter's atmosphere is an amazing tapestry of bands and circles and swirls that consistently moves, you never see the same Jupiter twice.

It's a shame to think that at one point this defining feature of Jupiter's will be gone, and that our study of it may never be clear.

In the meantime, we are witness to a great many wonders on our world, and luckily, we get to witness this on another world as well.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

my brain envies your brain, and it's ability to think like this. I wish I could see the world through your eyes for just one day. I imagine it would be amazing.

Unknown said...

I have the capacity to retain useless information, that is all. Nothing spectacular.