Slashdot Mirror
Jupiter's "Mini-Me" Solar System Grows
An anonymous reader writes "University of Hawaii's robotic telescopes have discovered 8 new moons for Jupiter, thus bringing its mini solar system to 48 total. No one knows how Jupiter dissipates the energy of these likely asteroid captures, unless it once had a massively larger atmosphere. Indeed, its ion cloud today seems to spell doom for what Sir Arthur C. Clarke indicated, is another reason to avoid probing life on Europa. ('All these worlds are yours--except Europa. Attempt no landings there.'-- 2010: Odyssey Two). As an aside, one of those NASA sites seem technically to be doing text-to-speech in a very familiar-sounding, Stephen Hawkings version [MP3] of those articles."
Since Jupiter is the largest planet in our Solar System it has influenced our neighborhood second only to the Sun.
Damnit, that's it. Jupiter and it's "friends" are creating too much havoc in this neighborhood, driving prices down, playing their music too damned loud. The police won't help, the astronomers seem to like it. Bah.
I'm moving.
Sent from your iPad.
Thequalityisokbymebutthewordsallseemtoruntogether
Well for 47 it really wasn't going to be worth the effort, but for 48 I think we better make the Trip. So Lets Go!
"... but Capan, Capan, i can not Geet it oop, I got to have 30 minutes.. "
(with apologies to Scotty)
Use your head, can't you, use your head,
You're on earth, there's no cure for that - S. Beckett
48 is worthless!
42 is the answer.
"I can't drive 55. It only goes 38."
He seems to have turned his attention from Astrophysics to producing gangsta rap
Repeal the DMCA!
48 moons? Ha! In highschool I was big enough to [insert fatjoke here]!!
My Name is Dr. Sbaitso. I am here to help you.
Say whatever is in your mind freely. Our conversation will be kept in strict confidance. Memory contents will be wiped after you leave.
So, tell me about your problems.
Please, I know this is news for nerds, but please, lower your geekiness factor a tad!
I concur! I've got a Meade 90mm (4") and I don't get much better of a view. The bad thing is that I actually got to look through a large observatory telescope (Mt. Laguna, CA) once and it was all over for me after that (MMMMmmmmm Pleiades) .
Now, I find looking through my scope pretty discouraging....well, at least I can see good shots of our moon....
thus bringing its mini solar system to 48 total Considering our solar system is only 9 . . . doing you think Jupiter going overkill to compensenate in other areas which may be...um, lacking?
(REUTERS) JUPITER--"C'mere, I wanna eat ye! I'm bigger than you and I'm stronger than you, I'm higher on the food chain!" Jupiter announced today, shortly before it embarked on a moon-gobbling smorgasbord adventure.
"By jove, I think he's mad," Europa said through a spokesperson today.
The other 47 moons did not return our calls.
I suppose it will take some time and go before the official naming group.
You have any ideas? It seems theyre out of names from Roman mythology, and moved on to Shakespeare's plays and "The Rape of the Lock."
But then there's always the option of naming them all "George Forman"
-- http://uncannyvalley.org/
Maybe they'll find that big black rock orbiting Jupiter that'll turn it into the second sun...or maybe Bush and co. will try to destory it since that would make solar power so much more effective...
As long as there is a Second Amendment, there will always be a First Amendment.
That's a point... is a triply posted story a tripe?
-Mark
It's a SPACE STATION!!!!
why not take advantage of the "mini solar system" and just ignite jupiter and turn sol into a binary system?
2 stars = more sunlight to grow crops, power solar vehicals, etc...
ah crap...i've been watching too much stargate SG1...
-frozen
I'm not always the brightest pixel in the stream
The ion cloud is completely irrelevant to the chances of finding life deep in the oceans of Europa. The Earth itself is surrounded by belts of ionized radiation.
Exactly, it just increases the chances that life on Europa will have super-powers. The Fantastic Four knows all about that. Sure, they have super-powers now but all-in-all they'd rather they didn't, especially Ben Grimm.