Will Jupiter’s Great Red Spot Turn into a Wee Red Dot?

universetoday.com ^ | February 4, 2014 | Bob King on

[BenLurkin]

In the 1880s the GRS resembled a huge blimp gliding high above white crystalline clouds of ammonia and spanned 40,000 km (25, 000 miles) across. You couldn’t miss it even in those small brass refractors that were the standard amateur observing gear back in the day. Nearly one hundred years later in 1979, the Spot’s north-south extent has remained virtually unchanged, but it’s girth had shrunk to 25,000 km (15,535 miles) or just shy of two Earth diameters. Recent work done by expert astrophotographer Damian Peach using the WINJUPOS program to precisely measure the GRS in high resolution photos over the past 10 years indicates a continued steady shrinkage:

[BenLurkin]

[cripplecreek]

Juno is on its way but I don’t think it has any viagra on board.

http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/juno/main/index.html#.UvEQlLTtNPY

[no-to-illegals]

Gosh, even Jupiter is cooling. Somebody contact algore!

[dangus]

Viagara? THAT’S how Juno got pregnant?

[samadams2000]

Jupiter has no land masses?? What kind of planet is that!! I give up. My brain hurts.

[Mastador1]

Gosh, even Jupiter is cooling. Somebody contact algore!

algore would probably respond that the Jupiters GRS is their version of our hole in the ozone layer and that its shrinking is simply proof that the residents of Jupiter are more ecologically sound stewards of their planet!

[no-to-illegals]

LOL ... can we send algore there?

[Mastador1]

LOL ... can we send algore there?

I'm for it, as long as it is a permanent exchange for intelligent life.

[no-to-illegals]

yes, we could even ask for some non-intelligent life. An even exchange of sorts.

[JRios1968]

Recent work done by expert astrophotographer Damian Peach using the WINJUPOS program to precisely measure the GRS in high resolution photos over the past 10 years indicates a continued steady shrinkage.

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks BenLurkin.

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[SunkenCiv]

Thanks BenLurkin, extra to APoD.

[JoeProBono]

[KoRn]

Would be interesting to know what’s beneath all of the clouds on Jupiter and Saturn. Does anyone really know for sure?

[LonePalm]

Somebody must have dumped a boatload of Clearasil on that thing.

Garde la Foi, mes amis! Nous nous sommes les sauveurs de la République! Maintenant et Toujours!
(Keep the Faith, my friends! We are the saviors of the Republic! Now and Forever!)
LonePalm, le Républicain du verre cassé (The Broken Glass Republican)