Jupiter global map created from still images from the Hubble Space Telescope It’s been widely reported, including at Universe Today, that the apple of Jupiter’s eye, the iconic Great Red Spot (GRS), has been shrinking for decades. Even the rate of shrinkage has been steadily increasing. Back in the late 1800s you could squeeze three Earths inside … Continue reading 'Hubble Sees Changes in Jupiter’s Red Spot, a Weird Wisp and Rare Waves'
And while new photos from the Hubble Space Telescope show that Jupiter’s swollen red eye has shrunk an additional 150 miles since 2014, the good news is that theof shrinkage appears to be well, shrinking. The contraction of the GRS has been studied closely since the 1930s; even as recently as 1979, the Voyager spacecraft measured it at 14,500 miles across.
For the moment, it appears that the GRS is holding steady, making for an even more interesting Jupiter observing season than usual. Already, the big planet dominates the eastern sky along with Venus on October mornings. Consider looking for changes in the Spot yourself in the coming months. A 6-inch or larger scope and determination are all you need.
Hubble photos of the Great Red Spot taken on a first rotation and 10 hours later show the counterclockwise rotation of the newly-discovered filament or wisp inside the GRS. Credit: NASA, ESA, A. Simon , M. Wong , and G. Orton also shows a curious wisp at the center of the Great Red Spot spanning almost the entire width of the hurricane-like vortex.
The newly-found waves in Jupiter’s atmosphere are located in regions where cyclones and anticyclones are common. They look like dark eyelashes. A cyclone is a storm or system of winds that rotates around an area of low pressure. Anticyclones spin around areas of high pressure. Credit: NASA, ESA, A. Simon , M. Wong , and G. Orton
That’s not all. The photos uncovered a rare wave structure just north of Jupiter’s equator that’s only been seen once before and with difficulty by the Voyager 2 spacecraft in 1979. The scientists, whose findings are described in this
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Weird dark spot on Neptune may have a bright spot buddyThe first-ever ground-based image of a dark spot on Neptune has revealed vital clues as to the origin of such anticyclonic vortices.
Read more »
‘Red red wine’ spills in semi-truck rollover in Benton CityBenton City is just west of Kennewick in South Washington.
Read more »
Pima Community College sees rise in attendance for fourth consecutive semesterPima Community College begins classes next week, and is expecting an increase in attendance for the fourth semester in a row.
Read more »
Tipster reveals rumored Galaxy S24 Ultra bezel sizes; sees lowest screen-to-body ratio since 2019Tipster reveals that the screen-to-body ratio on the Galaxy S24 Ultra could be the lowest for a Galaxy flagship since 2019.
Read more »
Oliver Anthony's 'melting pot' comment sees fans turn on himViral sensation Oliver Anthony may have splintered his conservative fan base with his recent comments on Fox News.
Read more »