Yipes! Stripes! are Back In Season on Gas Giant Jupiter

Stripes Are Back in Season on Jupiter
Jet Propulsion Laboratory
November 24, 2010

http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news.cfm?release=2010-397

PASADENA, Calif. - New NASA images support findings that one of
Jupiter's stripes that "disappeared" last spring is now showing signs of
a comeback. These new observations will help scientists better
understand the interaction between Jupiter's winds and cloud chemistry.

Earlier this year, amateur astronomers noticed that a longstanding
dark-brown stripe, known as the South Equatorial Belt, just south of
Jupiter's equator, had turned white. In early November, amateur
astronomer Christopher Go of Cebu City, Philippines, saw an unusually
bright spot in the white area that was once the dark stripe. This
phenomenon piqued the interest of scientists at NASA's Jet Propulsion
Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif., and elsewhere.

After follow-up observations in Hawaii with NASA's Infrared Telescope
Facility, the W.M. Keck Observatory and the Gemini Observatory
telescope, scientists now believe the vanished dark stripe is making a
comeback.

First-glimpse images of the re-appearing stripe are online at:
http://www.nasa.gov/topics/solarsyst...0101124-i.html.

"The reason Jupiter seemed to 'lose' this band - camouflaging itself
among the surrounding white bands - is that the usual downwelling winds
that are dry and keep the region clear of clouds died down," said Glenn
Orton, a research scientist at JPL. "One of the things we were looking
for in the infrared was evidence that the darker material emerging to
the west of the bright spot was actually the start of clearing in the
cloud deck, and that is precisely what we saw."

This white cloud deck is made up of white ammonia ice. When the white
clouds float at a higher altitude, they obscure the missing brown
material, which floats at a lower altitude. Every few decades or so, the
South Equatorial Belt turns completely white for perhaps one to three
years, an event that has puzzled scientists for decades. This extreme
change in appearance has only been seen with the South Equatorial Belt,
making it unique to Jupiter and the entire solar system.

The white band wasn't the only change on the big, gaseous planet. At the
same time, Jupiter's Great Red Spot became a darker red color. Orton
said the color of the spot - a giant storm on Jupiter that is three
times the size of Earth and a century or more old - will likely brighten
a bit again as the South Equatorial Belt makes its comeback.

The South Equatorial Belt underwent a slight brightening, known as a
"fade," just as NASA's New Horizons spacecraft was flying by on its way
to Pluto in 2007. Then there was a rapid "revival" of its usual dark
color three to four months later. The last full fade and revival was a
double-header event, starting with a fade in 1989, revival in 1990, then
another fade and revival in 1993. Similar fades and revivals have been
captured visually and photographically back to the early 20th century,
and they are likely to be a long-term phenomenon in Jupiter's atmosphere.

Scientists are particularly interested in observing this latest event
because it's the first time they've been able to use modern instruments
to determine the details of the chemical and dynamical changes of this
phenomenon. Observing this event carefully may help to refine the
scientific questions to be posed by NASA's Juno spacecraft, due to
arrive at Jupiter in 2016, and a larger, proposed mission to orbit
Jupiter and explore its satellite Europa after 2020.

The event also signifies another close collaboration between
professional and amateur astronomers. The amateurs, located worldwide,
are often well equipped with instrumentation and are able to track the
rapid developments of planets in the solar system. These amateurs are
collaborating with professionals to pursue further studies of the
changes that are of great value to scientists and researchers everywhere.

"I was fortunate to catch the outburst," said Christopher Go, referring
to the first signs that the band was coming back. "I had a meeting that
evening and it went late. I caught the outburst just in time as it was
rising. Had I imaged earlier, I would not have caught it," he said. Go,
who also conducts in the physics department at the University of San
Carlos, Cebu City, Philippines, witnessed the disappearance of the
stripe earlier this year, and in 2007 he was the first to catch the
stripe's return. "I was able to catch it early this time around because
I knew exactly what to look for."

NASA's Exoplanet Science Institute at the California Institute of
Technology in Pasadena manages time allocation on the Keck telescope for
NASA. Caltech manages JPL for NASA.

For more information about NASA and agency programs, visit:
http://www.nasa.gov/home.

Priscilla Vega/Jia-Rui Cook 818-354-1357/354-0850
Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif.
priscilla.r.vega @ jpl.nasa.gov / Jia-Rui.C.Cook @ jpl.nasa.gov

Huge Great Red Spot (GRS) Thank You to Ron Baalke of sci.space.news !

Happy days *and*...
Starry, starry nights !

--
I'm a fool upon a hill,
See my planet spinning still?
Sun goes down and stars arise,
Warm and pleasing to my eyes.

See my little telescope?
People say I'm such a dope;
I don't mind because I nurse
Secrets of the Universe!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8KkGVccgJrA

Indelibly yours,
Paine Ellsworth

PS - http://painellsworth.net !
http://www.secretsgolden.com !
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:Paine_Ellsworth !

On Nov 25, 11:22*pm, "Painius" wrote:
Stripes Are Back in Season on Jupiter
Jet Propulsion Laboratory
November 24, 2010

http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news.cfm?release=2010-397

PASADENA, Calif. - New NASA images support findings that one of
Jupiter's stripes that "disappeared" last spring is now showing signs of
a comeback. These new observations will help scientists better
understand the interaction between Jupiter's winds and cloud chemistry.

Earlier this year, amateur astronomers noticed that a longstanding
dark-brown stripe, known as the South Equatorial Belt, just south of
Jupiter's equator, had turned white. In early November, amateur
astronomer Christopher Go of Cebu City, Philippines, saw an unusually
bright spot in the white area that was once the dark stripe. This
phenomenon piqued the interest of scientists at NASA's Jet Propulsion
Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif., and elsewhere.

After follow-up observations in Hawaii with NASA's Infrared Telescope
Facility, the W.M. Keck Observatory and the Gemini Observatory
telescope, scientists now believe the vanished dark stripe is making a
comeback.

First-glimpse images of the re-appearing stripe are online at:http://www.nasa.gov/topics/solarsyst...0101124-i.html.

"The reason Jupiter seemed to 'lose' this band - camouflaging itself
among the surrounding white bands - is that the usual downwelling winds
that are dry and keep the region clear of clouds died down," said Glenn
Orton, a research scientist at JPL. "One of the things we were looking
for in the infrared was evidence that the darker material emerging to
the west of the bright spot was actually the start of clearing in the
cloud deck, and that is precisely what we saw."

This white cloud deck is made up of white ammonia ice. When the white
clouds float at a higher altitude, they obscure the missing brown
material, which floats at a lower altitude. Every few decades or so, the
South Equatorial Belt turns completely white for perhaps one to three
years, an event that has puzzled scientists for decades. This extreme
change in appearance has only been seen with the South Equatorial Belt,
making it unique to Jupiter and the entire solar system.

The white band wasn't the only change on the big, gaseous planet. At the
same time, Jupiter's Great Red Spot became a darker red color. Orton
said the color of the spot - a giant storm on Jupiter that is three
times the size of Earth and a century or more old - will likely brighten
a bit again as the South Equatorial Belt makes its comeback.

The South Equatorial Belt underwent a slight brightening, known as a
"fade," just as NASA's New Horizons spacecraft was flying by on its way
to Pluto in 2007. Then there was a rapid "revival" of its usual dark
color three to four months later. The last full fade and revival was a
double-header event, starting with a fade in 1989, revival in 1990, then
another fade and revival in 1993. Similar fades and revivals have been
captured visually and photographically back to the early 20th century,
and they are likely to be a long-term phenomenon in Jupiter's atmosphere.

Scientists are particularly interested in observing this latest event
because it's the first time they've been able to use modern instruments
to determine the details of the chemical and dynamical changes of this
phenomenon. Observing this event carefully may help to refine the
scientific questions to be posed by NASA's Juno spacecraft, due to
arrive at Jupiter in 2016, and a larger, proposed mission to orbit
Jupiter and explore its satellite Europa after 2020.

The event also signifies another close collaboration between
professional and amateur astronomers. The amateurs, located worldwide,
are often well equipped with instrumentation and are able to track the
rapid developments of planets in the solar system. These amateurs are
collaborating with professionals to pursue further studies of the
changes that are of great value to scientists and researchers everywhere.

"I was fortunate to catch the outburst," said Christopher Go, referring
to the first signs that the band was coming back. "I had a meeting that
evening and it went late. I caught the outburst just in time as it was
rising. Had I imaged earlier, I would not have caught it," he said. Go,
who also conducts in the physics department at the University of San
Carlos, Cebu City, Philippines, witnessed the disappearance of the
stripe earlier this year, and in 2007 he was the first to catch the
stripe's return. "I was able to catch it early this time around because
I knew exactly what to look for."

NASA's Exoplanet Science Institute at the California Institute of
Technology in Pasadena manages time allocation on the Keck telescope for
NASA. Caltech manages JPL for NASA.

For more information about NASA and agency programs, visit:http://www.nasa.gov/home.

Priscilla Vega/Jia-Rui Cook 818-354-1357/354-0850
Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif.
priscilla.r.vega @ jpl.nasa.gov / Jia-Rui.C.Cook @ jpl.nasa.gov

Huge Great Red Spot (GRS) Thank You to Ron Baalke of sci.space.news !

Happy days *and*...
* *Starry, starry nights !

--
I'm a fool upon a hill,
*See my planet spinning still?
Sun goes down and stars arise,
*Warm and pleasing to my eyes.

See my little telescope?
*People say I'm such a dope;
I don't mind because I nurse
*Secrets of the Universe!

*http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8KkGVccgJrA

Indelibly yours,
Paine Ellsworth

PS -http://painellsworth.net!
* * * * *http://www.secretsgolden.com!
* * * * * * * * *http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:Paine_Ellsworth!

The stripes on Jupiter are just storms that form rings because Jupiter
is spinning like a top.

Gods only know what the red spot is.

On Nov 26, 12:22*am, "Painius" wrote:
Stripes Are Back in Season on Jupiter
Jet Propulsion Laboratory
November 24, 2010

http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news.cfm?release=2010-397

PASADENA, Calif. - New NASA images support findings that one of
Jupiter's stripes that "disappeared" last spring is now showing signs of
a comeback. These new observations will help scientists better
understand the interaction between Jupiter's winds and cloud chemistry.

Earlier this year, amateur astronomers noticed that a longstanding
dark-brown stripe, known as the South Equatorial Belt, just south of
Jupiter's equator, had turned white. In early November, amateur
astronomer Christopher Go of Cebu City, Philippines, saw an unusually
bright spot in the white area that was once the dark stripe. This
phenomenon piqued the interest of scientists at NASA's Jet Propulsion
Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif., and elsewhere.

After follow-up observations in Hawaii with NASA's Infrared Telescope
Facility, the W.M. Keck Observatory and the Gemini Observatory
telescope, scientists now believe the vanished dark stripe is making a
comeback.

First-glimpse images of the re-appearing stripe are online at:http://www.nasa.gov/topics/solarsyst...0101124-i.html.

"The reason Jupiter seemed to 'lose' this band - camouflaging itself
among the surrounding white bands - is that the usual downwelling winds
that are dry and keep the region clear of clouds died down," said Glenn
Orton, a research scientist at JPL. "One of the things we were looking
for in the infrared was evidence that the darker material emerging to
the west of the bright spot was actually the start of clearing in the
cloud deck, and that is precisely what we saw."

This white cloud deck is made up of white ammonia ice. When the white
clouds float at a higher altitude, they obscure the missing brown
material, which floats at a lower altitude. Every few decades or so, the
South Equatorial Belt turns completely white for perhaps one to three
years, an event that has puzzled scientists for decades. This extreme
change in appearance has only been seen with the South Equatorial Belt,
making it unique to Jupiter and the entire solar system.

The white band wasn't the only change on the big, gaseous planet. At the
same time, Jupiter's Great Red Spot became a darker red color. Orton
said the color of the spot - a giant storm on Jupiter that is three
times the size of Earth and a century or more old - will likely brighten
a bit again as the South Equatorial Belt makes its comeback.

The South Equatorial Belt underwent a slight brightening, known as a
"fade," just as NASA's New Horizons spacecraft was flying by on its way
to Pluto in 2007. Then there was a rapid "revival" of its usual dark
color three to four months later. The last full fade and revival was a
double-header event, starting with a fade in 1989, revival in 1990, then
another fade and revival in 1993. Similar fades and revivals have been
captured visually and photographically back to the early 20th century,
and they are likely to be a long-term phenomenon in Jupiter's atmosphere.

Scientists are particularly interested in observing this latest event
because it's the first time they've been able to use modern instruments
to determine the details of the chemical and dynamical changes of this
phenomenon. Observing this event carefully may help to refine the
scientific questions to be posed by NASA's Juno spacecraft, due to
arrive at Jupiter in 2016, and a larger, proposed mission to orbit
Jupiter and explore its satellite Europa after 2020.

The event also signifies another close collaboration between
professional and amateur astronomers. The amateurs, located worldwide,
are often well equipped with instrumentation and are able to track the
rapid developments of planets in the solar system. These amateurs are
collaborating with professionals to pursue further studies of the
changes that are of great value to scientists and researchers everywhere.

"I was fortunate to catch the outburst," said Christopher Go, referring
to the first signs that the band was coming back. "I had a meeting that
evening and it went late. I caught the outburst just in time as it was
rising. Had I imaged earlier, I would not have caught it," he said. Go,
who also conducts in the physics department at the University of San
Carlos, Cebu City, Philippines, witnessed the disappearance of the
stripe earlier this year, and in 2007 he was the first to catch the
stripe's return. "I was able to catch it early this time around because
I knew exactly what to look for."

NASA's Exoplanet Science Institute at the California Institute of
Technology in Pasadena manages time allocation on the Keck telescope for
NASA. Caltech manages JPL for NASA.

For more information about NASA and agency programs, visit:http://www.nasa.gov/home.

Priscilla Vega/Jia-Rui Cook 818-354-1357/354-0850
Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif.
priscilla.r.vega @ jpl.nasa.gov / Jia-Rui.C.Cook @ jpl.nasa.gov

Huge Great Red Spot (GRS) Thank You to Ron Baalke of sci.space.news !

Happy days *and*...
* *Starry, starry nights !

--
I'm a fool upon a hill,
*See my planet spinning still?
Sun goes down and stars arise,
*Warm and pleasing to my eyes.

See my little telescope?
*People say I'm such a dope;
I don't mind because I nurse
*Secrets of the Universe!

*http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8KkGVccgJrA

Indelibly yours,
Paine Ellsworth
s
PS -http://painellsworth.net!
* * * * *http://www.secretsgolden.com!
* * * * * * * * *http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:Paine_Ellsworth!

Stripes thicker along the equator's top and south equitorial
belts.These belts are very noticable even with a cheap telescope.I'm
sure Jupiters fast rotation helps create them. Paius helium and
hydrogen have no color,so there must be something in Jupiters
atmosphere to cause its brown belts?? That makes me ask "Why is the
red spot so red?" TreBert

My dearest "bert" wrote in message...
...
On Nov 26, 12:22 am, "Painius" wrote:

Stripes Are Back in Season on Jupiter
Jet Propulsion Laboratory
November 24, 2010

http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news.cfm?release=2010-397

PASADENA, Calif. - New NASA images support findings that one of
Jupiter's stripes that "disappeared" last spring is now showing signs of
a comeback. These new observations will help scientists better
understand the interaction between Jupiter's winds and cloud chemistry. .
. .

Stripes thicker along the equator's top and south equitorial
belts.These belts are very noticable even with a cheap telescope.I'm
sure Jupiters fast rotation helps create them. Paius helium and
hydrogen have no color,so there must be something in Jupiters
atmosphere to cause its brown belts?? That makes me ask "Why is the
red spot so red?" TreBert

P I T A P I T A P I T A P I T A P I T A P I T A P I T A

Perhaps Jove BLEEDS for us? g

Happy days *and*...
Starry, starry nights !

--
I'm a fool upon a hill,
See my planet spinning still?
Sun goes down and stars arise,
Warm and pleasing to my eyes.

See my little telescope?
People say I'm such a dope;
I don't mind because I nurse
Secrets of the Universe!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8KkGVccgJrA

Indelibly yours,
Paine Ellsworth

PS - http://painellsworth.net !
http://www.secretsgolden.com !
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:Paine_Ellsworth !

My dearest "Mark Earnest" wrote in message...
...
On Nov 25, 11:22 pm, "Painius" wrote:

Stripes Are Back in Season on Jupiter
Jet Propulsion Laboratory
November 24, 2010

http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news.cfm?release=2010-397

PASADENA, Calif. - New NASA images support findings that one of
Jupiter's stripes that "disappeared" last spring is now showing signs of
a comeback. These new observations will help scientists better
understand the interaction between Jupiter's winds and cloud chemistry. .
. .

The stripes on Jupiter are just storms that form rings because Jupiter
is spinning like a top.

Gods only know what the red spot is.

P I T A P I T A P I T A P I T A P I T A P I T A P I T A

Gods AND Wikipedians!...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Red_Spot

Happy days *and*...
Starry, starry nights !

--
I'm a fool upon a hill,
See my planet spinning still?
Sun goes down and stars arise,
Warm and pleasing to my eyes.

See my little telescope?
People say I'm such a dope;
I don't mind because I nurse
Secrets of the Universe!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8KkGVccgJrA

Indelibly yours,
Paine Ellsworth

PS - http://painellsworth.net !
http://www.secretsgolden.com !
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:Paine_Ellsworth !

My dearest "Saul Levy" wrote...
in message ...

It's a BELT as you DO say, Paine!

STRIPES ARE FOR ZEBRAS!

AND for the US flag !

BAWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

Call it what astronomers call it.

You know me, Saul -- i calls 'em as i sees 'em, which does
not necessary coincide with what astronomers calls 'em.

PIG**** will claim it's another DISASTER! Such belts have disappeared
and returned many times.

Saul Levy

Warhol? I thought Warhol would claim that i should be
ashamed, since there are no planets or anything else in
the sky! The sky is a sham put there by God to confuse
us! Astronomy is FOOLISH, and astronomers are FOOLS!

Shame on me. g

On Fri, 26 Nov 2010 00:22:46 -0500, "Painius"
wrote:

Stripes Are Back in Season on Jupiter
Jet Propulsion Laboratory
November 24, 2010

http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news.cfm?release=2010-397

PASADENA, Calif. - New NASA images support findings that one of
Jupiter's stripes that "disappeared" last spring is now showing signs of
a comeback. These new observations will help scientists better
understand the interaction between Jupiter's winds and cloud chemistry. .
. .

Happy days *and*...
Starry, starry nights !

--
I'm a fool upon a hill,
See my planet spinning still?
Sun goes down and stars arise,
Warm and pleasing to my eyes.

See my little telescope?
People say I'm such a dope;
I don't mind because I nurse
Secrets of the Universe!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8KkGVccgJrA

Indelibly yours,
Paine Ellsworth

PS - http://painellsworth.net !
http://www.secretsgolden.com !
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:Paine_Ellsworth !

My dearest "HVAC" wrote...
in message ...
On 11/26/2010 7:52 AM, Painius wrote:

. .

The stripes on Jupiter are just storms that form rings because Jupiter
is spinning like a top.

Gods only know what the red spot is.

There is no god.

FOITN...

If there were no god, then you would not have to say,
"There is no god."

If there were no god, then there would be no need for...

A T H E I S M

If there were no god, then your very existence would
not make any sense. Your life would have no meaning.
When you die, you would completely cease to exist.

Would this not be the most profound waste of YOU?

You appear to be convinced that there is no god. Can
you convince others? Can you convince me?

Happy days *and*...
Starry, starry nights !

--
I'm a fool upon a hill,
See my planet spinning still?
Sun goes down and stars arise,
Warm and pleasing to my eyes.

See my little telescope?
People say I'm such a dope;
I don't mind because I nurse
Secrets of the Universe!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8KkGVccgJrA

Indelibly yours,
Paine Ellsworth

PS - http://painellsworth.net !
http://www.secretsgolden.com !
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:Paine_Ellsworth !

On 11/26/2010 7:52 AM, Painius wrote:

. .

The stripes on Jupiter are just storms that form rings because Jupiter
is spinning like a top.

Gods only know what the red spot is.


There is no god.

On 11/26/2010 9:46 AM, Painius wrote:


There is no god.

FOITN...

If there were no god, then you would not have to say,
"There is no god."


YOU are the one that brought it up.


If there were no god, then there would be no need for...

A T H E I S M


And the world would be a FAR better place if
all believers are put to death.

Why 'all', you ask?

It's the only way to be sure.



If there were no god, then your very existence would
not make any sense. Your life would have no meaning.
When you die, you would completely cease to exist.


You have much to learn, grasshopper.
We are all a part of the universe.
We can and will NEVER cease to exist.



Would this not be the most profound waste of YOU?


Nothing is ever wasted in our universe.



You appear to be convinced that there is no god. Can
you convince others? Can you convince me?


The real question is, can you convince YOURSELF ?

My dearest "HVAC" wrote...
in message ...
On 11/26/2010 9:46 AM, Painius wrote:


There is no god.

FOITN...

If there were no god, then you would not have to say,
"There is no god."


YOU are the one that brought it up.

A secret of wisdom: Never state the obvious.

If there were no god, then there would be no need for...

A T H E I S M


And the world would be a FAR better place if
all believers are put to death.

Why 'all', you ask?

It's the only way to be sure.

Then the only ones left would be just like you.

And you would all deserve each other.

If there were no god, then your very existence would
not make any sense. Your life would have no meaning.
When you die, you would completely cease to exist.


You have much to learn, grasshopper.
We are all a part of the universe.
We can and will NEVER cease to exist.

That sounds dangerously like a "faith".
If you have no scientific evidence in favor of this, then you
really are just a bot.

Would this not be the most profound waste of YOU?


Nothing is ever wasted in our universe.

I've been wasted many times.

Are you a tee-totaler?

You appear to be convinced that there is no god. Can
you convince others? Can you convince me?


The real question is, can you convince YOURSELF ?

That will never happen, GI !

I will go to my grave in awesome wonder.

For that is the most honest and truthful way to die.

Happy days *and*...
Starry, starry nights !

--
Tender is my love for thee
Oh! Star so close at hand,
Warming those so dear to me
As we play on the sand.

It's so easy to believe
In all this beachin' fun,
Someday you and we will be
Altogether one.

http://www.swpc.noaa.gov/primer/primer.html

As it sinks into the sea,
You almost hear the SSSSSSSun...

http://tinyurl.com/beachsunsetjpg

Indelibly yours,
Paine Ellsworth

PS - http://painellsworth.net !
http://www.secretsgolden.com !
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:Paine_Ellsworth !