Neptune Sports Dark Vortex, Hubble Images Reveal

space.com ^ | 06/24/2016 | Nola Taylor Redd

[BenLurkin]

Neptune is sporting a new spot, the first one identified in the 21st century. NASA's Hubble Space Telescope confirmed the existence of the high-pressure system known as a dark vortex after bright clouds hinted at its presence.

"Dark vortices coast through the atmosphere like huge, lens-shaped gaseous mountains," research astronomer Mike Wong, of the University of California at Berkeley, said in a statement. Wong led the team that analyzed the Hubble data.

"And the companion clouds are similar to so-called organic clouds that appear as pancake-shaped features lingering over mountains on Earth," he added

Both professional and amateur astronomers started seeing the bright clouds on the ice giant in July 2015. Companion clouds form when air flowing on the planet is disturbed and cast upward by a dark vortex. At high elevations, the gas freezes into methane crystals, forming clouds. This provided the first hint of a newly formed vortex, since the high-pressure systems are typically only visible at blue wavelengths.

...

The newfound maelstrom measures roughly 3,000 miles (4,800 kilometers) across, and lies in the planet's southern hemisphere. Other high-altitude clouds cross the planet at its poles and equator.

[BenLurkin]

http://www.space.com/images/i/000/056/446/original/neptune-dark-vortex.jpg?interpolation=lanczos-none&downsize=*:1400

[Verginius Rufus]

Bush’s fault!

[BenLurkin]

Thank goodness.

I thought for sure the first post would be about that other planet out there.

[tet68]

Thank god it wasn’t spotted on Uranus~!

[NohSpinZone]

1000 mph winds. Global warming to blame for sure - man-made. The CO2 was transported by the two Voyagers.

[Verginius Rufus]

"That other planet out there."

You mean Pluto?

[fieldmarshaldj]

*ping*

[dsrtsage]

The earth also has a dark vortex somewhere between Virginia and Maryland, though it is probably on a golf course at the moment

[real saxophonist]

Gustav Holst's Neptune, The Mystic is a pretty interesting piece.

[2nd Amendment]

there are Klingons circling around Uranus!

[DannyTN]

Black spots are caused by Davy Jones.

Versus

Are you ready to rumble?

[DannyTN]

"There is a strom coming."

[Mat_Helm]

Time for the penguin on top of your Teli to explode!

[BBB333]

“Odd that penguin being there, isn’t it?”

[onedoug]

Very nice.

Thanks.

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks fieldmarshaldj.

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[SunkenCiv]

Thanks fieldmarshaldj, extra to APoD.

[null and void]

<img src=http://www.space.com/images/i/000/056/446/original/neptune-dark-vortex.jpg?interpolation=lanczos-none&downsize=*:1400>

Posts:

[Verginius Rufus]

The dark spot on Neptune: a Blue light special.