PC Pals Forum
General Discussion => Science & Nature => Topic started by: sam on May 15, 2010, 23:32
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Jupiter has lost a belt, giving sky-watchers an unusual view of the gas giant planet's pale bottom.
Two wide stripes—known as the equatorial belts—normally circle the huge planet, products of the fast-moving jet streams that roar through Jupiter's atmosphere.
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2010/05/100514-science-space-jupiter-lost-belt-great-red-spot/
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The belt seems to disappear every 12 years or so which coincidentally fits in with Jupiter's orbital period around the Sun. I wonder if there may be some sort of link? :dunno:
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could be some kind of heating effect, but I doubt it - its probably more an odd coincidence. Its worth keeping not of though. I wonder how old observations we could dig out and try and fit a trend... there is a paper in this...
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A PhD even! ;D
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well just collating the old results and making some conclusions would indeed probably be a good masters project.... hmm....
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LOL, how many more Masters do you need? :laugh: One for Lizzie maybe? Surely she must be on her way to a PhD now?
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oh she is on her way to the PhD - I was thinking for a student!! Yes I'm at that point of starting to dream up projects for others -scary!
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;D Yes, I guessed it was for a student. :laugh: