Topic: Jupiter Loses Big Belt; Great Spot Left Hanging

[sam]

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/

[Clive]

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?   

[sam]

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...

[Clive]

A PhD even!   

[sam]

well just collating the old results and making some conclusions would indeed probably be a good masters project.... hmm....

[Clive]

LOL, how many more Masters do you need?     One for Lizzie maybe?  Surely she must be on her way to a PhD now? 

[sam]

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!

[Clive]

   Yes, I guessed it was for a student.