Astronomy Picture of the Day

NASA ^ | 7/14/08 | NASA

[sig226]

When Storms Collide
Credit: NASA, ESA, Amy Simon-Miller (Goddard Space Flight Center), N. Chanover (NMSU), G. Orton (JPL)
Four posts before someone says, "Bush's fault." :)
Explanation: These detailed Hubble Space Telescope close-ups feature Jupiter's ancient swirling storm system known as the Great Red Spot. They also follow the progress of two newer storm systems that have grown to take on a similar reddish hue: the smaller "Red Spot Jr." (bottom), and smaller still, a "baby red spot". Red Spot Jr. was seen to form in 2006, while the smaller spot was just identified earlier this year. For scale, the Great Red Spot has almost twice the diameter of planet Earth. Moving horizontally from left to right past the Great Red Spot, Red Spot Jr. clearly went below the larger storm, but the smaller spot was pulled in. Emerging on the right, the baby spot's stretched and now paler shape is indicated by the arrow in the frame from July 8. It is expected that the baby red spot will be pulled back and merge, becoming part of the giant storm system.

[sig226]

[the anti-liberal]

We really need a picture of a black-hole (the astronomical kind).

[Melinda]

I wonder if Dr. Mitchell can see any aliens in there?

[Centurion2000]

A hurricane 25,000 miles wide. Gotta wonder what the wind speeds are like in there.

[unkus]

Algore should go up there and investigate.

[RightWhale]

250 mph on the periphery.
Britannica

[RonF]

Earth’s diameter is about 7,900 miles, so that spot is on the basis of the statement given about 16,000 miles wide, not 25,000.

[TexasCajun]

What tiny, tiny blips on the universal radar are we humans and our Blue Planet.

Always amazing.

[RightWhale]

Radio was invented a century ago. Our photon footprint is 200 lightyears across.

[Gideon7]

Radio was invented a century ago. Our photon footprint is 200 lightyears across.

Digital tranmissions look like white noise; the signal is compressed, and unless you know the decompression algorithm it looks like random static.

In a few decades the Earth will look like another natural radio source.

[jwparkerjr]

It's kinda hard to see in this picture. I'll be happy to point it out if that helps. You're welcome!

[wastedyears]

***Radio was invented a century ago. Our photon footprint is 200 lightyears across.***

How do you figure that math out? I thought light was the fastest thing known to man.

[RightWhale]

It’s a combination of knowing a lot of math and a lot of physics, a confluence of vast, deep, and wide knowledge and experience of the natural world.

[the anti-liberal]

Thanks - I’ll print this out and show it as proof the next time someone accuses me of racism when I mention it.

[wastedyears]

Radio waves don’t weaken as they go farther away from the Earth?

I think it takes a few hours for transmissions to go from a probe back to Earth when it’s around a certain planet’s orbital plane. I forget which planet and probe.

[RightWhale]

Radio waves don’t weaken as they go farther away

As with all inverse square radiation, they have 1/4 the intensity when they are twice as far away, but they are still there. SETI is looking for signals of that strength coming from sources that far away. Doesn't take anything special aside from hugh antennas and sophisticated receivers.

[wastedyears]

What if we’re looking for the wrong frequency?

Or what if it’s something we don’t know exists?

[Lancey Howard]

What is the frequency, Kenneth?

[21twelve]

100 years in all directions (radius) gives you a swath (diameter) of 200 light years across. At least that’s what I figure his point is. Of course the earth itself is moving through space, and our solar system, galaxy etc. is too so I’m sure it’s more complicated than that.

[wastedyears]

Beats me