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Telescope Jargon
See Also:
Enjoy Saturn!
Famous Meteorites
The Planet Jupiter
The planet Jupiter is was named by the Romans after their god Jupiter, who was also sometimes called Jove. Jupiter is the largest planet in our solar system by far. It is more than twice as large as all of the other planets combined.
Jupiter might well have become a star when it was born, had it been larger. There is very little (if any) solid matter on Jupiter. If there is any at all, it is hidden deeply inside the planet. Jupiter is made up entirely (as far as we know now) of gases and liquids.
The very composition of Jupiter means that its parts do not rotate at the same speed, but rotation is fast. Jupiter makes one complete revolution in a little less than 10 hours. This very fast rotation plus the makeup of gases and liquids are what causes the bulge at the equator of Jupiter.
Jupiter has an internal heat source. We are sure of this because it actually emits more radiation than it gets from the sun.
There are four large moons and dozens of small moons that rotate around Jupiter, making it a kind of small solar system unto itself.
One of the more outstanding features about Jupiter is the never-ending hurricane called "The Giant Red Spot" in the southern hemisphere. This disturbance has been going on for the last 400 years that we know of. It never abates…probably because it never passes over land (there isn't any) like hurricanes on earth do.
An explanation for the color of the clouds on Jupiter still eludes astronomers. With the conditions that exist, clouds should be colorless, but they are anything but colorless, and they change color over time. We still have a lot to learn! |
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More articles:
Famous Meteorites (Cosmic Collisions) - Cosmeo
The Planet Saturn
MARMET- METEORITES
What Do You Know About Astronomy (Test Your Knowledge... | Target.com
On Pluto’s Demotion
The Planet Mars
Planting by the Moon
Ah, the moon! The moon has been studied by astronomers (both professional and amateur) for centuries. We even reached out and touched it when Neil Armstrong stepped onto the moon 1969. The moon has been the subject of songs, movies, and poetry, and probably always will be. Astronomers have always been utterly fascinated by the moon, and mankind has been fascinated by how it affects the earth and earthlings since time began.
We do know without a doubt that the moon regulates the ocean tides. It is also a certainty that sleeping with moonlight on your head will not turn you into a werewolf or drive you insane. Some beliefs about the moon have been proven true while others have been proven not true.
Farmers have planted according to the moon for centuries, and more and more farmers are returning to those moon-planting axioms every year. Why? Because they work. Planting root vegetables when the moon is "waning" will produce more root vegetables like potatoes, carrots, turnips, beets, etc. Planting vegetables when the moon is increasing will produce more vegetables that produce above ground (beans, peas, lettuce, tomatoes, etc.).
Planting and gardening by the moon gets even more specific. For example, it is better to turn soil when the moon is in the last quarter. The moon tells farmers and gardeners when it is to their advantage to plant, as well as when it is to their advantage to pull weeds or turn soil.
There are many who doubt the validity of planting by the moon, but consider that the moon does have an effect on humans (you can get a lot of debate about that statement). We don't fully understand everything we know about those effects yet. You can ask any policeman, clergyman, doctor, or nurse and they will tell you that during a full moon, there are more crimes committed, more suicides, and more babies born.
Related Topics: The Future of Space Travel,
Telescope Accessories, Digital Astrophotography
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