Jupiter's Third Red Spot Destroyed

[Mugu]

skyandtelescope.com

As Jupiter reached opposition earlier this week, it put on a spectacular show of cannibalism for anyone viewing with modest telescopes.

Planetary specialists around the world have been watching with bated breath as a cataclysmic encounter between Jupiter's Great Red Spot (GRS), Oval BA (Red, Jr.), and the newly discovered Little Red Spot (LRS) unfolded at the beginning of July. Though encounters such as this are relatively common on the gas giant, this event was greatly anticipated because the LRS was strong enough to dredge up material from deeper within Jupiter's atmosphere, imbuing it with the same reddish color as the GRS and Oval BA.

As the three storms converged on July 1, LRS appeared to be rapidly squeezed between the GRS and Oval BA. Images recorded through methane filters which accentuate upper-atmosphere details showed all three spots as individual features as late as July 7th, leading some to conclude that LRS had survived the encounter.

However, amateur Christopher Go of Cebu City, Philippines, captured high-resolution pictures on July 10 that appear to put an end to the speculation. His image shows no sign of the LRS, and methane images show only the GRS and Oval BA.



http://www.skyandtelescope.com/observing/home/24453169.html">Complete article

[shadowknows69]

1. In other news: astronaut Dave Bowman missing after computer glitch

[davidwparker]

2. LOL

[TomInTib]

4. Hey, shadow....

I saw (sort of) the World Premier of 2001:Space Odyssey while blasted out of the tree on acid.

It was either '68 or '69.

The only movie that I ever attended with my evil Step-Father.

Tom

[shadowknows69]

5. I did that with the home version somewhere in the 80's

[undeterred]

3. Sounds like the description of a skin disease.

:hide:

[eppur_se_muova]

6. And where was FEMA this time? Huh? nt

[rpannier]

7. Interesting

Thanks for sharing

[Mugu]

8. You're quite welcome. n/t