Posted on 05/07/2006 11:05:13 AM PDT by neverdem
For the past few months, astronomers have tracked an emerging second red spot on Jupiter, at left, a growing rival about one-half the diameter of the planet's trademark Great Red Spot. The Hubble Space Telescope has now snapped the first detailed pictures of what some observers are calling Red Spot Jr.
Astronomers at the Space Telescope Science Institute in Baltimore said this was the first time scientists had witnessed the birth of one of these huge oval spots, presumably a convective phenomenon like a powerful thunderstorm. The Great Red Spot was already present when observers first looked with telescopes at the planet some 400 years ago.
Though Red Spot Jr. is half the size, the astronomers said it appeared in near-infrared images to be as bright in Jupiter's cloudy atmosphere as its large companion. They suggested that the new storm might rise higher above the main cloud deck than the older spot.
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
(Don't give 'em the clicks!)
Busted out and dusted off my scope last night as a matter of fact as Jupiter was at it's closest point to earth for 2006. This spot was very visible as was 3 bright moons.
Sure wish I could find the right camera/eyepiece adapter.
New Storm on Jupiter Hints at Climate Change
www.space.com | 04 May 2006 | Sara Goudarzi
Posted on 05/04/2006 1:38:47 PM EDT by RightCanuck
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1626751/posts
Hubble Snaps Baby Pictures of Jupiter's "Red Spot Jr."
Hubble Site | May 4, 2006
Posted on 05/04/2006 4:44:15 PM EDT by orionblamblam
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1626867/posts
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