Astronomy Picture of the Day -- Jupiter Rotation Movie from Pic du Midi

NASA ^ | December 06, 2011 | (see photo credit)

[SunkenCiv]

Explanation: Observe the graceful twirl of the Solar System's largest planet. Many interesting features of Jupiter's enigmatic atmosphere, including dark bands and light zones, can be followed in detail. A careful inspection will reveal that central clouds rotate slightly faster than clouds toward the poles. The famous Great Red Spot is visible at first but soon rotates out of view, only to return near the movie's end. Other smaller storm systems ocassionally appear. As large as Jupiter is, it rotates in only 10 hours. Our small Earth, by comparison, takes 24 hours to complete a spin cycle. The above high-resolution time-lapse movie was captured over the past year by the one-meter Telescope at the Pic du Midi Observatory in the French Pyrenees. Since hydrogen and helium gas are colorless, and those elements compose most of Jupiter's expansive atmosphere, what trace elements create the observed colors of Jupiter's clouds remains unknown.

[SunkenCiv]

[Credit & Copyright: S2P / IMCCE / OPM / JL Dauvergne et al.]

[SunkenCiv]

Poll: Pick your favorites of last week's APODs

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[ToxicMich]

Amazing... I am a Jupiter lover. This one is a real eye candy...

[Talisker]

Wow. Wow. Wow!

[left that other site]

Gorgeous! Thanks Civ!

[ixtl]

Another fantastic shot...and in motion yet. Thank you, thank you, thank you SunkenCiv

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks!