Mystery black spots discovered on Jupiter

[SkinnyBoy]

http://www.space.com/scienceastronomy/jupiter_dark...

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/science/a...



Have they discovered the one on the moon yet?

[Eric Mc]

Hmm - you've linked to two separate stories, one dating from 2003 and one from 2009.

The picture from the Aussie astronomer certainly shows a black mark in the Jovian cloud tops. It looks very similar to the marks left in the clouds by the numerous impacts of Comet Schumacher-Levy 9 in 1994. I wonder has Jupiter been struck again, only this time we didn't see the object that collided with the planet - only its aftermath?

By the way, the picture on the Times site showing the astronauts posing in front of a Lunar Module mock up depicts the Apollo 17 crew - not Apollo 11.

The Times is RUBBISH when it comes to accuracy of reporting.

Edited by Eric Mc on Tuesday 21st July 22:42

[Horse_Apple]

Hi Mc Eric. An Accountant and an Astronomer. Just Train Spotting left for the Holy Trinity

[Eric Mc]

Horse_Apple said:

Hi Mc Eric. An Accountant and an Astronomer. Just Train Spotting left for the Holy Trinity

Not trains - planes.

[Horse_Apple]

Eric Mc said:

Horse_Apple said:

Hi Mc Eric. An Accountant and an Astronomer. Just Train Spotting left for the Holy Trinity

Not trains - planes.

Real ale or lager?

[Eric Mc]

Definitely real ale (but no beard).

[Eric Mc]

Eric Mc said:

Hmm - you've linked to two separate stories, one dating from 2003 and one from 2009.

The picture from the Aussie astronomer certainly shows a black mark in the Jovian cloud tops. It looks very similar to the marks left in the clouds by the numerous impacts of Comet Schumacher-Levy 9 in 1994. I wonder has Jupiter been struck again, only this time we didn't see the object that collided with the planet - only its aftermath?

By the way, the picture on the Times site showing the astronauts posing in front of a Lunar Module mock up depicts the Apollo 17 crew - not Apollo 11.

The Times is RUBBISH when it comes to accuracy of reporting.

I don't normally quote myself but NASA scientists are saying that Jupiter appears to have been hit by another cometary type object similar to, but smaller tham, Schumacher-Levy 9.

I tell ya, I should have been a planetary scientist.

The picture below is an infra-red image of the likely impact site - which matches where the dark spot was observed.

Edited by Eric Mc on Tuesday 21st July 22:43

[Muntu]

Colour infra red, with Earth for scale

[srebbe64]

Wow - if it's true and it is another comet/meteorite impact, maybe Jupiter is hit far more than people realise. I guess its gravitational influence is immense, but what are the odds of two major impacts in such a short period of time! Rather sobering I think!

[Parrot of Doom]

srebbe64 said:

Wow - if it's true and it is another comet/meteorite impact, maybe Jupiter is hit far more than people realise. I guess its gravitational influence is immense, but what are the odds of two major impacts in such a short period of time! Rather sobering I think!

Especially when you consider that some estimates have Tunguska-size impacts on our planet occurring at a frequency of about 100 years.

[jmorgan]

Jupiter takes another for us.

Don't let this spoil your sleep.
http://www.unb.ca/passc/ImpactDatabase/index.html

Obviously the ones that hit land are easier to identify.......

[magpie215]

jmorgan said:

Jupiter takes another for us.

Yes Jupiter certainly mops up a lot of potential earth impactors

[Eric Mc]

It's the Solar System's natural Hoover.

[Puggit]

Eric Mc said:

It's the Solar System's natural Hoover.

With the gravitational capacity to also mess with known orbits of objects with trajectories considered 'safe' for Earth.

[scorp]

srebbe64 said:

Wow - if it's true and it is another comet/meteorite impact, maybe Jupiter is hit far more than people realise. I guess its gravitational influence is immense, but what are the odds of two major impacts in such a short period of time! Rather sobering I think!

I read (several) theories about jupiters role in eating many stray objects in our solar system in effect protecting the inner planets.

[Eric Mc]

As Puggit says, it can actually work both ways.

The gravitational pull can both deaw in objects that MIGHT have been a danger to earth. Conversely, its gravitational pull could also deflect and object an to a collision course with earth.

[Eric Mc]

It looks like NASA will be directing the Hubble Space Telescope to have a look.

The telescope is currently ina four month test period following its repair and update a few months ago.

[Eric Mc]

And here is the Hubble picture

[srebbe64]

Eric Mc said:

And here is the Hubble picture

It looks like 'multiplying obelisks' to me!

[Eric Mc]

Pity Arthur C Clarke's not around to see this.