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Credit & Copyright: S2P /
IMCCE / OPM /
JL Dauvergne et al.
Explanation:
Observe the graceful twirl of the Solar System's largest planet.
Many interesting features of
Jupiter's enigmatic atmosphere, including dark bands and light zones, can be
followed in detail.
A careful inspection will reveal that central clouds rotate
slightly faster than clouds toward the poles.
The famous Great Red Spot is visible at first but soon
rotates out of view, only to return near the movie's end.
Other smaller storm systems ocassionally appear.
As large as Jupiter is, it rotates in only 10 hours.
Our small Earth, by comparison, takes 24 hours to complete a
spin cycle.
The above high-resolution time-lapse movie was
captured over the past year by the one-meter Telescope at the
Pic du Midi Observatory
in the
French Pyrenees.
Since
hydrogen and
helium gas are colorless, and those
elements compose most of Jupiter's expansive
atmosphere, what trace elements create the observed
colors of Jupiter's clouds remains unknown.
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NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings, and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris. Specific rights apply.
A service of: LHEA at NASA / GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
Based on Astronomy Picture
Of the Day
Publications with keywords: Jupiter - rotation - clouds
Publications with words: Jupiter - rotation - clouds
See also: