Latest news with #GiovanniCassini
The Advertiser
7 days ago
- Science
- The Advertiser
Ask Fuzzy: What's happening to Jupiter's spot?
While there are many truly beautiful objects in the night sky, arguably the most stunning is Jupiter. Seen up close from spacecraft such as Cassini, the swirling textured surface looks like something that Van Gogh might have painted. The fifth planet from the Sun is easily visible to the naked eye and is more than twice as massive as the other planets combined. If it were a hollow shell, a thousand Earths could fit inside. Curiously for such a large object, Jupiter also has the shortest day in the solar system, being only 10 hours long. Jupiter's size and rapid spin generates a huge coriolis effect - the same force that shapes cyclones and hurricanes on Earth. The striking colours in thick bands across Jupiter are thought to be plumes of sulphur and phosphorus gases. While it might be beautiful, it would not be a happy place to visit. Aside from being a long way, the atmosphere that includes ammonia ice and ammonium hydrosulfide crystals is not recommended. The planet's rotation causes cyclonic storms with winds over 500 kilometres per hour, forming bands of colour, with spots scattered from pole to pole. With no solid surface to slow them down, these spots persist for many years. The first person to observe a spot on Jupiter was Giovanni Cassini in 1672 when he drew pictures using his primitive telescope. By today's standards telescopes were still unsophisticated in the 1800s when the Great Red Spot was first seen. A drawing from 1831 shows a large oval shape that we now know is a giant storm, twice as wide as Earth. MORE ASK FUZZY: Through the 300 years it's been observed, Jupiter's patterns have been constantly evolving. In recent times, three smaller ovals merged to form the Little Red Spot which is about half the size. Now it seems the Great Red Spot is shrinking. In the late 1800s it spanned about 41,000km and in 1979 the NASA Voyager measured it at 23,335 km. Today, the spot's waistline is only 16,500 km, and getting smaller by 1000 kilometres per year. At this rate it could disappear in the near future. It might be sad for our photogenic neighbour to lose its beauty spot, but who knows, it'll probably grow a new one. The Fuzzy Logic Science Show is at 11am Sundays on 2xx 98.3FM. Send your questions to AskFuzzy@ Podcast: While there are many truly beautiful objects in the night sky, arguably the most stunning is Jupiter. Seen up close from spacecraft such as Cassini, the swirling textured surface looks like something that Van Gogh might have painted. The fifth planet from the Sun is easily visible to the naked eye and is more than twice as massive as the other planets combined. If it were a hollow shell, a thousand Earths could fit inside. Curiously for such a large object, Jupiter also has the shortest day in the solar system, being only 10 hours long. Jupiter's size and rapid spin generates a huge coriolis effect - the same force that shapes cyclones and hurricanes on Earth. The striking colours in thick bands across Jupiter are thought to be plumes of sulphur and phosphorus gases. While it might be beautiful, it would not be a happy place to visit. Aside from being a long way, the atmosphere that includes ammonia ice and ammonium hydrosulfide crystals is not recommended. The planet's rotation causes cyclonic storms with winds over 500 kilometres per hour, forming bands of colour, with spots scattered from pole to pole. With no solid surface to slow them down, these spots persist for many years. The first person to observe a spot on Jupiter was Giovanni Cassini in 1672 when he drew pictures using his primitive telescope. By today's standards telescopes were still unsophisticated in the 1800s when the Great Red Spot was first seen. A drawing from 1831 shows a large oval shape that we now know is a giant storm, twice as wide as Earth. MORE ASK FUZZY: Through the 300 years it's been observed, Jupiter's patterns have been constantly evolving. In recent times, three smaller ovals merged to form the Little Red Spot which is about half the size. Now it seems the Great Red Spot is shrinking. In the late 1800s it spanned about 41,000km and in 1979 the NASA Voyager measured it at 23,335 km. Today, the spot's waistline is only 16,500 km, and getting smaller by 1000 kilometres per year. At this rate it could disappear in the near future. It might be sad for our photogenic neighbour to lose its beauty spot, but who knows, it'll probably grow a new one. The Fuzzy Logic Science Show is at 11am Sundays on 2xx 98.3FM. Send your questions to AskFuzzy@ Podcast: While there are many truly beautiful objects in the night sky, arguably the most stunning is Jupiter. Seen up close from spacecraft such as Cassini, the swirling textured surface looks like something that Van Gogh might have painted. The fifth planet from the Sun is easily visible to the naked eye and is more than twice as massive as the other planets combined. If it were a hollow shell, a thousand Earths could fit inside. Curiously for such a large object, Jupiter also has the shortest day in the solar system, being only 10 hours long. Jupiter's size and rapid spin generates a huge coriolis effect - the same force that shapes cyclones and hurricanes on Earth. The striking colours in thick bands across Jupiter are thought to be plumes of sulphur and phosphorus gases. While it might be beautiful, it would not be a happy place to visit. Aside from being a long way, the atmosphere that includes ammonia ice and ammonium hydrosulfide crystals is not recommended. The planet's rotation causes cyclonic storms with winds over 500 kilometres per hour, forming bands of colour, with spots scattered from pole to pole. With no solid surface to slow them down, these spots persist for many years. The first person to observe a spot on Jupiter was Giovanni Cassini in 1672 when he drew pictures using his primitive telescope. By today's standards telescopes were still unsophisticated in the 1800s when the Great Red Spot was first seen. A drawing from 1831 shows a large oval shape that we now know is a giant storm, twice as wide as Earth. MORE ASK FUZZY: Through the 300 years it's been observed, Jupiter's patterns have been constantly evolving. In recent times, three smaller ovals merged to form the Little Red Spot which is about half the size. Now it seems the Great Red Spot is shrinking. In the late 1800s it spanned about 41,000km and in 1979 the NASA Voyager measured it at 23,335 km. Today, the spot's waistline is only 16,500 km, and getting smaller by 1000 kilometres per year. At this rate it could disappear in the near future. It might be sad for our photogenic neighbour to lose its beauty spot, but who knows, it'll probably grow a new one. The Fuzzy Logic Science Show is at 11am Sundays on 2xx 98.3FM. Send your questions to AskFuzzy@ Podcast: While there are many truly beautiful objects in the night sky, arguably the most stunning is Jupiter. Seen up close from spacecraft such as Cassini, the swirling textured surface looks like something that Van Gogh might have painted. The fifth planet from the Sun is easily visible to the naked eye and is more than twice as massive as the other planets combined. If it were a hollow shell, a thousand Earths could fit inside. Curiously for such a large object, Jupiter also has the shortest day in the solar system, being only 10 hours long. Jupiter's size and rapid spin generates a huge coriolis effect - the same force that shapes cyclones and hurricanes on Earth. The striking colours in thick bands across Jupiter are thought to be plumes of sulphur and phosphorus gases. While it might be beautiful, it would not be a happy place to visit. Aside from being a long way, the atmosphere that includes ammonia ice and ammonium hydrosulfide crystals is not recommended. The planet's rotation causes cyclonic storms with winds over 500 kilometres per hour, forming bands of colour, with spots scattered from pole to pole. With no solid surface to slow them down, these spots persist for many years. The first person to observe a spot on Jupiter was Giovanni Cassini in 1672 when he drew pictures using his primitive telescope. By today's standards telescopes were still unsophisticated in the 1800s when the Great Red Spot was first seen. A drawing from 1831 shows a large oval shape that we now know is a giant storm, twice as wide as Earth. MORE ASK FUZZY: Through the 300 years it's been observed, Jupiter's patterns have been constantly evolving. In recent times, three smaller ovals merged to form the Little Red Spot which is about half the size. Now it seems the Great Red Spot is shrinking. In the late 1800s it spanned about 41,000km and in 1979 the NASA Voyager measured it at 23,335 km. Today, the spot's waistline is only 16,500 km, and getting smaller by 1000 kilometres per year. At this rate it could disappear in the near future. It might be sad for our photogenic neighbour to lose its beauty spot, but who knows, it'll probably grow a new one. The Fuzzy Logic Science Show is at 11am Sundays on 2xx 98.3FM. Send your questions to AskFuzzy@ Podcast:
Yahoo
02-04-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
‘Ghostly pyramid of light': Could ancient universal dust illuminate Kentucky skies?
KENTUCKY (FOX 56) — An eerie glow could be visible on clear nights in Kentucky now that the spring equinox has settled in. According to EarthSky, zodiacal light can be seen extending up from the horizon as twilight ends. On nights with little to no ambient light from the moon, a ghostly glow shaped like a hazy pyramid of light can be seen for a time after the sun sets. Originally, people believed that zodiacal light came from phenomena in the Earth's upper atmosphere, according to EarthSky. One theory states that the cause of the glow can trace its origins back to the inception of the solar system approximately 4.5 billion light-years ago. Another theory claims that the celestial debris could originate from dust storms on Mars. Either way, the ghostly lights that were described by Muhammad in the Koran and investigated by astronomer Giovanni Cassini continue to fascinate stargazers. While typically easier to see in the southern hemisphere, stargazers in Kentucky and the rest of the northern hemisphere would need to travel away from city life to see Cassini's pyramids of light, EarthSky notes. In the springtime, target areas where city lights don't obscure the rich array of natural light spread across the sky at night. The best time to try and view the zodiacal lights would be during a new moon or when the moon is at a slim crescent. It's also best to try and see the lights during mostly to completely clear nights, where cloud cover is limited. Given the upcoming string of severe storms and heavy rains forecasted for Kentucky over the next week, the next best available viewing date might be Monday, April 7, through Tuesday, April 8. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
24-02-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
The Top 10 Biggest Moons (Ours Isn't Number One)
When we think of moons, we usually think of our Moon. It's bright and familiar, can be seen with the naked eye, and the only one humans have ever set foot on. But in the grand scheme of the solar system, Earth's Moon isn't as big as you might think. Diameter: 1,523 km Size compared to Earth's Moon: 43.8% Year discovered: 1787 Oberon is Uranus's second-largest moon, and like most of its neighbors, it's a cold, cratered chunk of ice and rock. It was discovered in 1787 by William Herschel, the same astronomer who found Uranus. Its surface is covered in craters, some with bright peaks in the middle, hinting at buried ice. There are also some mysterious dark patches, possibly left over from ancient geological activity. But for the most part, Oberon seems to be a pretty quiet place. The only close-up photos we have of Oberon came from NASA's Voyager 2 flyby in 1986. Since then, it's been largely ignored, but it's still an interesting moon. Like many of Uranus's moons, it's named after a Shakespearean character. In this case, the king of the fairies from A Midsummer Night's Dream. Diameter: 1,529 km Size compared to Earth's Moon: 44% Year discovered: 1672 Rhea is Saturn's second-largest moon, discovered way back in 1672 by astronomer Giovanni Cassini. It's mostly made of ice and rock and, like a lot of Saturn's moons, it's covered in craters. Some of these craters have bright streaks running through them, possibly from ice exposed by past impacts. NASA's Cassini spacecraft took a closer look at Rhea and confirmed that it doesn't have much of an atmosphere, though there's a chance it could have a thin layer of oxygen or even a hidden ocean beneath its surface. One of the more interesting (and weird) discoveries was the possibility of a ring system around Rhea. If true, it would be the only moon we know of with its own rings. Diameter: 1,578 km Size compared to Earth's Moon: 45.4% Year discovered: 1787 Titania is the biggest moon of Uranus, discovered by William Herschel in 1787. It's a frozen world covered in craters, canyons, and long cracks, which suggests that at some point the surface shifted and reshaped itself. Voyager 2 gave us the only close-up images of Titania when it flew past Uranus in 1986. The pictures showed many geological features, hinting that the moon may have been more active in the past. Some scientists think there could even be a hidden ocean beneath the ice, though there's no proof yet. Since we haven't sent any spacecraft back to Uranus since Voyager 2, Titania remains a bit of a mystery. It's definitely on the list of places scientists would love to explore if a mission to Uranus ever gets the green light. Diameter: 2,707 km Size compared to Earth's Moon: 77.9% Year discovered: 1846 Triton is Neptune's biggest moon, discovered in 1846 by William Lassell. What makes it fascinating is that it orbits backward (called a retrograde orbit), opposite to Neptune's rotation. That's a big clue that Triton wasn't originally part of Neptune's system but was probably captured from elsewhere in the solar system. Another wild thing about Triton? It has ice volcanoes. Instead of lava, these volcanoes erupt nitrogen gas and frozen material. When Voyager 2 flew by in 1989, it even caught geysers shooting nitrogen straight into space. That kind of activity is rare on moons. Triton's surface is covered in ice, and there's a chance that liquid water exists deep below. If so, it could be one of the few places in the solar system where life might be possible. It also has a super-thin atmosphere made of nitrogen, but don't expect to breathe there. Diameter: 3,122 km Size compared to Earth's Moon: 89.8% Year discovered: 1610 Europa is one of Jupiter's biggest moons and easily one of the most interesting. Its surface is covered in cracked ice, with long, dark streaks that suggest the ice shifts and moves over time. Beneath that frozen shell, scientists believe there's a massive ocean of liquid water that's kept warm by heat from the moon's interior. Because of that hidden ocean, Europa is considered one of the best places to look for alien life. If life can exist in Earth's deep oceans near hydrothermal vents, it's possible something similar could be living in Europa's waters. NASA is planning to take a closer look with the Europa Clipper mission, set to launch in the 2030s. The spacecraft will scan the surface, study the ice, and look for signs that Europa's ocean might actually be habitable. Diameter: 3,475 km Size compared to Earth's Moon: 100% Year discovered: Prehistory Earth's Moon is the only one we've got, but it's still pretty special. It's the fifth-largest moon in the solar system and likely formed billions of years ago when a Mars-sized object slammed into Earth. This theory is known as the Giant Impact Hypothesis. Its surface is covered in craters, mountains, and dark plains called maria, which were created by ancient volcanic activity. Unlike any other moon, humans have actually set foot on it, thanks to the Apollo missions between 1969 and 1972. Besides lighting up the night sky (isn't it beautiful?), it also controls Earth's tides and helps keep the planet's rotation stable. Without it, life on Earth would be very different. Diameter: 3,643 km Size compared to Earth's Moon: 104.8% Year discovered: 1610 Io is basically a giant volcanic hotspot. It's the most volcanically active place in the solar system. It's constantly spewing out sulfur and lava, which gives it that weird yellow-orange, pizza-like appearance. Unlike most moons, Io doesn't have many craters. That's because its surface is constantly getting resurfaced by lava, covering up any impact scars almost as soon as they form. What keeps Io so active? Jupiter's intense gravity (plus the tug from nearby moons like Europa and Ganymede) stretches and squeezes Io's interior, generating enough heat to keep its volcanoes erupting nonstop. It's a chaotic, lava-filled world. Probably not a place you'd want to visit. Diameter: 4,280 km Size compared to Earth's Moon: 138.7% Year discovered: 1610 Callisto is Jupiter's second-largest moon, and if there's one thing that stands out about it, it's the craters. In fact, it's considered the most heavily cratered object in the solar system, meaning its surface has been unchanged for billions of years. It's basically a time capsule from the early solar system. Unlike some of Jupiter's other big moons, Callisto is pretty geologically dead. No volcanoes, no shifting ice, no signs of a subsurface ocean. Just a cold, battered landscape that's been collecting impact scars for eons. That being said, Callisto has one thing going for it. It's far enough from Jupiter to avoid the worst of the planet's radiation. Some scientists think this makes it a good candidate for a future human base, since it would be one of the safest places to set up camp in the Jupiter system. I probably wouldn't live there, though. Diameter: 5,150 km Size compared to Earth's Moon: 148.2% Year discovered: 1655 Titan is Saturn's biggest moon, discovered way back in 1655 by astronomer Christiaan Huygens. It has a thick, hazy atmosphere, mostly nitrogen with a bit of methane, which makes it the only moon in the solar system with a real atmosphere. Below that thick orange sky, Titan has lakes and rivers, but instead of water, they're filled with liquid methane. It even has a rain cycle, just like Earth, except it rains methane instead of water. Scientists also think there might be a huge ocean of liquid water hidden beneath its icy crust. If that's true, Titan could be one of the few places in the solar system where life might exist. The Cassini spacecraft and the Huygens probe gave us our first real look at this strange world, but there's still a lot left to discover. Diameter: 5,270 km Size compared to Earth's Moon: 151.7% Year discovered: 1610 Ganymede is the largest moon in the solar system, even bigger than the planet Mercury. If it were orbiting the Sun instead of Jupiter, it might have been classified as a planet. Ganymede is the only moon with its own magnetic field. Scientists also think there's a huge ocean buried underground, possibly holding more water than all of Earth's oceans combined. NASA's Galileo spacecraft gave us our best look at Ganymede's surface. It showed icy plains, craters, and a mix of grooves and ridges which means there was probably some past geological activity. Now, the European Space Agency's JUICE mission is set to visit Ganymede in the 2030s to take an even closer look to figure out just how deep that hidden ocean goes. We've given you all the juicy details, but here's a table to put all of this into perspective at a glance: # Moon Diameter (km) Size Compared to Earth's Moon (%) Planet Year Discovered Oberon 1,523 43.8 Uranus 1787 Rhea 1,529 44 Saturn 1672 Titania 1,578 45.4 Uranus 1787 Triton 2,707 77.9 Neptune 1846 Europa 3,122 89.8 Jupiter 1610 The Moon 3,475 100 Earth Prehistory Io 3,643 104.8 Jupiter 1610 Callisto 4,820 138.7 Jupiter 1610 Titan 5,150 148.2 Saturn 1655 Ganymede 5,270 151.7 Jupiter 1610
