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Jupiter Gets New Red Spot

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the presents-for-planets dept.

saskboy writes "The planet Jupiter is growing a new red spot. Jupiter is already well known for its Great Red Spot storm which is visible through modest backyard telescopes, so it will be interesting if this newer spot sticks around and grows. From the article: 'The official name of this storm is Oval BA, but Red Jr. might be better. It's about half the size of the famous Great Red Spot and almost exactly the same color. Oval BA first appeared in the year 2000 when three smaller spots collided and merged. A similar merger centuries ago may have created the original Great Red Spot, a storm twice as wide as our planet and at least 300 years old.'"

141 comments

  1. Nothing new to astronomers by BadAnalogyGuy · · Score: 2, Funny

    So the huge pie-faced planet gets another zit... Maybe it should cut back on the Doritos and Mountain Dew.

    1. Re:Nothing new to astronomers by outsourced · · Score: 2, Funny

      must be global warming. those jupiterians should really stop driving SUVs and using aerosol cans.

    2. Re:Nothing new to astronomers by Harvester+of+Eyes · · Score: 1

      If any celestial body needed a change of diet, it would be Io.

      --
      "Space is what I need, what I feed on..."
  2. Contagious ? by Amonimous+Coward · · Score: 1

    Are these red spots contagious ?

    1. Re:Contagious ? by coaxeus · · Score: 1

      I personaly blame the ter-rihsts. We should launch operation free the red spot from the ter-rihsts at once.

      --
      My name is coaxeus, and I approve this message. In fact, I think it is awesome.
    2. Re:Contagious ? by haydon4 · · Score: 1

      Are these red spots contagious?

      No, these are common when gas giants go through puberty.

    3. Re:Contagious ? by Clueless+Nick · · Score: 1

      No, you get them by kissing girls. Mars saw Jupiter do it, from behind the asteroid belt, and blushed.

      Isn't that the line here today?

      --
      Chat with other atheists http://secularchat.org
    4. Re:Contagious ? by hedge_death_shootout · · Score: 0, Troll

      Maybe *this* will persuade BU$HITLER and the NEOCONS that global warming isn't a myth!! goddamnit!!!!!1!!11!1!!111eleven!!!

    5. Re:Contagious ? by StevieZ · · Score: 0, Flamebait

      Yea, Bush liberated 50 million people, other then watch MTV, what have YOU done today?

    6. Re:Contagious ? by Millenniumman · · Score: 1

      Well, it does show that significant global warming occurs outside of human influence. It would more support the "NEOCONS" than prove them wrong.

      --
      Stupidity is like nuclear power, it can be used for good or evil. And you don't want to get any on you.
    7. Re:Contagious ? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Don't you mean 50 million barrels of oil?

    8. Re:Contagious ? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      um... Have you never taken a science class before? For those of you tools that missed it in geology or earth science in middle and high school, we are coming out of an ice age. ie: the planet is still thawing. There is nothing we can do to this planet, short of building a bomb that will kill all human life, that can cause the planet to warm any faster than it already is. Global warming does exist, but not because of anything we have done or can do. It will stll thaw no matter what we do. It is the natural cycle of the planet. Too bad none of you paid attention in school. This liberal crap (no I'm not republican or of any political affiliation) is just that. CRAP. Grow up, learn to look at the FACTS and stop listening to the media and hollywood spin the facts into a farce.

    9. Re:Contagious ? by I_Love_Pocky! · · Score: 1
      I'd assume this is a troll, but this is the same tripe that I hear on conservative talk radio. What does global warming have to do with liberalism? Perhaps it is the end of an ice age, and much of the warming is natural. Still, how can you really think we don't impact our environment?

      Which of the following don't you agree with:
      1. CO2 is a green house gas.
      2. We produce a lot of CO2.
      3. Photosynthesis removes CO2 from the atmosphere.
      4. Humans have significantly contributed to a decrease in plant cover on Earth.
      5. CO2 is now produced faster, and the planet has a lowered ability to remove CO2.
      6. This leads to a CO2 build-up which acts as a blanket trapping more energy from the sun leading to rising average global temperatures.

      I'm just curious, because I don't understand what would motivate "liberals" to promote this idea. What do they have to gain? While I've often heard global warming referred to as a liberal conspiracy, I've never heard anyone promoting that idea explain why liberals would do that. Except of course for the standard explanation that liberals are crazy.
  3. The Domino Theory Confirmed! by Nova+Express · · Score: 5, Funny
    First one communist spot appears. Now, 300 years later, another one! At this rate, all of Jupiter will be communist in less than 40,000 years.

    It's up to us to rescue them. Thinking of the millions of innocent Jovians rotting away in their oppressive gaseous Gulags...

    --
    Lawrence Person (lawrencepersonh@gmailh.com (remove all "h"s to mail)

    http://www.lawrenceperson.com/

    1. Re:The Domino Theory Confirmed! by mtenhagen · · Score: 1

      No 30 years ago these where communist, now they are terrorist training camps.

      There must a preemptive strike or they will surely destroy our civilization. Those alien terrorist just hate us because our planet is blue.

      --
      200GB/2TB $7.95 Coupon: SAVE90DOLLAR
    2. Re:The Domino Theory Confirmed! by harrkev · · Score: 1

      WRONG!!! The great red spot is a giant hurricane ... and now there is a new one.

      This proves that Bush don't like red planets.

      --
      "-1 Troll" is the apparently the same as "-1 I disagree with you."
    3. Re:The Domino Theory Confirmed! by Murdoc · · Score: 1

      I knew it, a classic case of "red shift". Tends to happen in those large, cold countries and planets. I bet one day they'll take over Mars (already the red planet), and then build a giant wall inside the asteroid belt too, to keep out people from the "blue planet". How long again before Jupiter completes another revolution?

      --
      Our ignorance is not so vast as our failure to use what we know. - M. King Hubbert
  4. GW by addaon · · Score: 5, Funny

    Just try to deny global warming now, Republicans! We have proof!

    --

    I've had this sig for three days.
    1. Re:GW by MillionthMonkey · · Score: 2, Interesting

      I think before we panic we should all stop to realize that this is part of a continuous process of change where red spots are continuously created and destroyed on Jupiter all the time!
      Oh well I suppose a spot will disappear next week ho hum no news here.

    2. Re:GW by jcr · · Score: 1

      I think before we panic we should all stop to realize that this is part of a continuous process of change where red spots are continuously created and destroyed on Jupiter all the time!

      NO! No, it's not! There's been just one spot on Jupiter as long as anyone can remember, and this new one MUST be GWB's fault!

      -jcr

      --
      The only title of honor that a tyrant can grant is "Enemy of the State."
    3. Re:GW by rspress · · Score: 1

      One thing the mars rovers have proved that mars is warming as well.

      I like what Dennis Miller said about global warming. "I am supposed believe the temperature readings from a hundred years ago? Hell we were still crapping outdoors."

    4. Re:GW by MillionthMonkey · · Score: 1

      I like what Dennis Miller said about global warming. "I am supposed believe the temperature readings from a hundred years ago? Hell we were still crapping outdoors."

      Dennis Miller says a lot of dumb things all the time, "people", but that has to be the dumbest Dennis Miller quote ever. Although I may be wrong since I missed his brief career on Monday night football.

    5. Re:GW by rspress · · Score: 1

      How come the left thought he was great and a thinking mans comic, then when came out as republican they can't say enough bad things about him?

    6. Re:GW by Arctic+Fox · · Score: 1
      Every religion needs to demonize it's heretics.

      I always thought he was more libertarian than anything else. He's on board with killing terrorists over there, though.

    7. Re:GW by rspress · · Score: 1

      This is true. I always liked him no matter what his politics are. That is true for a lot of people I like. I enjoy their craft but not their politics. The only one I really hold their politics against them is Barbra Streisand. Always hated her, always will.

      I just checked out her site and she is bitching about the port deal. That was posted before it was known that her honey, Bill Clinton, was a major force behind it. I wonder if she will change her tune now.

      I think the port deal sucks....no matter who came up with it.

    8. Re:GW by Abcd1234 · · Score: 1

      Because, as a republican, his comedy has changed from intelligent to idiotic. Rather than thoughtful jokes and lampooning of the left, he makes idiot comments like the one quoted. Hell, he spends half his time making pandering, transparently "patriotic" comments in order to rile up the audience and get cheap laughs. Comments like turning Iraq into a sheet of glass ring a bell.

      It's sad. I think there was a time he was an intelligent comic. But those days are long past.

    9. Re:GW by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I just checked out her site and she is bitching about the port deal. That was posted before it was known that her honey, Bill Clinton, was a major force behind it.

      Wow, what "pre-9/11" thinking Clinton had when he was president.

      How do you feel about the Great Wurlitzer calling you a racist for opposing this port deal anyway? Everyone seems to have gotten orders to say it.

  5. ...and just before the big date with Venus by DoctorHibbert · · Score: 4, Funny

    It was funny in my head.

    --
    Arbitrary sig
    1. Re:...and just before the big date with Venus by Clueless+Nick · · Score: 2, Funny

      Jupiter doesn't go on dates. He just runs away with them. Ask Europa.

      --
      Chat with other atheists http://secularchat.org
    2. Re:...and just before the big date with Venus by britneys+9th+husband · · Score: 1

      So THAT'S why she dumped him for Mars.

      --
      Hear recorded Slashdot headlines on your phone! New service beta testing. Just call (248) 434-5508
    3. Re:...and just before the big date with Venus by ggvaidya · · Score: 1

      I'm not sure what Uranus has to do with this, though ...

  6. Same thing happened to me... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    last time I pick up a $20 hooker.

    A shot of Penicillin cleared it right up though.....

  7. Is it ill? by roman_mir · · Score: 2, Funny

    Is Jupiter too old to have a case of measles?

    --
    You can't handle the truth.
  8. I'll be waiting... by Biomechanical · · Score: 3, Funny

    ...To hear that the red spot has started going black, and then I'll just sit and smile when all the hardcore rightwing religious nuts freak out at a second sun soon after. :)

    A boy can dream...

    --
    His name is Robert Paulsen...
    1. Re:I'll be waiting... by MichaelSmith · · Score: 1

      Four years to go. The Chinese haven't really started on their space station yet...

      --
      http://michaelsmith.id.au
    2. Re:I'll be waiting... by i_should_be_working · · Score: 1

      Is a second sun some kind of harbringer of armageddon or something?

    3. Re:I'll be waiting... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It's a reference to the movie/book, "2001"

    4. Re:I'll be waiting... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      2010, actually...

    5. Re:I'll be waiting... by Biomechanical · · Score: 1
      Is a second sun some kind of harbringer of armageddon or something?

      It was a vague reference to the movie 2010, the sequel to 2001, and a reference to the age old belief that is often trotted out by seriously die-hard christians that the sun and the sky and everything in it revolves around the earth, with absolutely no mention whatsoever of God creating, or intending to create, a second sun.

      It was a spur of the moment joke which you, through probably no fault of your own, missed.

      --
      His name is Robert Paulsen...
    6. Re:I'll be waiting... by sharkey · · Score: 2, Funny

      Nah, that just means that Mick and the boys have moved on to a new venue.

      "I see a Red Spot and I want to paint it black..."

      --

      --
      "Outlook not so good." That magic 8-ball knows everything! I'll ask about Exchange Server next.
    7. Re:I'll be waiting... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Well, since everything in the US is turning black now, why shouldn't Jupitor? Ghetto for everyone. yay... go blackplanet.

      Stupid, stupid, stupid.

    8. Re:I'll be waiting... by Arctic+Fox · · Score: 1
      The serious ones?

      You're kidding right?

    9. Re:I'll be waiting... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      All these worlds are yours, except Europa. Attempt no landing there. Use them together. Use them in peace.

  9. It's time for the Sun... by brian0918 · · Score: 5, Funny

    It's time for the Sun to sit down and have the old birds/bees chat with Jupiter. The planet will start going through some big changes these next few millenia. The fraction of helium in the atmosphere will drop significantly. Its albedo will grow wildly. New rings will start appearing at odd angles. It's nothing to be ashamed of... all gas giants go through this phase of development.

    1. Re:It's time for the Sun... by Clueless+Nick · · Score: 1

      Don't dream about interplanetary titties, Jupiter is male. At least in the legends, he is an alpha male, and perhaps he is growing up to the beta level.

      --
      Chat with other atheists http://secularchat.org
    2. Re:It's time for the Sun... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      CHANGELOG
      -----------

      Version 0.2 of Jupiter

      - New red spot added .

  10. Oh no! by clockmaker · · Score: 3, Funny

    The monoliths are multiplying!

    1. Re:Oh no! by Lucas.Langa · · Score: 1

      Wasn't it 2010?

      --
      Build a tool even an idiot can use and only an idiot will want to use it. -S.O.B.
  11. Global Warming? by mcrbids · · Score: 3, Insightful

    I remember reading some time ago that they've discovered ice on Mars, and that the amount of ice at the poles shrinks every year, indicating global warming.

    Now, Jupiter has this new storm that's beginning to rival the classic Red Spot. Is this more sign of a warming solar trend?

    --
    I have no problem with your religion until you decide it's reason to deprive others of the truth.
    1. Re:Global Warming? by Firehed · · Score: 1

      Yeah. Obviously our sun is burning hotter than ever. That or it just remembered that it's heat has to go somewhere, and it's a lot easier to heat up a small planet than all of the universe, so it's sending it in our direction. We're just hoping that we'll have interstellar travel figured out before we get properly roasted, so we can go take over Mars or something, which should be nice and hospitable by then.

      --
      How are sites slashdotted when nobody reads TFAs?
    2. Re:Global Warming? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Interesting

      Hmmm. Real Climate says no on Mars. (Real Climate is a website set up by actual climatologists to counter the lies spread by libertarians and republicans in the American media.)

    3. Re:Global Warming? by zippthorne · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Actually, the sun IS burning hotter currently. AND we know that it varies in cycles. For instance, the 22 year sunspot cycle is one cycle of varying solar constant. Why assume that other cycles are not also superposed?

      --
      Can you be Even More Awesome?!
    4. Re:Global Warming? by SnarfQuest · · Score: 2, Funny

      Now, Jupiter has this new storm that's beginning to rival the classic Red Spot. Is this more sign of a warming solar trend?

      It's those two damn SUV's that NASA has running around Mars! Everyone who watches TV knows that SUV's are the only thing that can cause Global Warming! They are exporting our Global Warming to Mars!

      --
      Who would win this election: Andrew Weiner vs Andrew Weiner's weiner.
    5. Re:Global Warming? by JahToasted · · Score: 1

      Aren't we in the cooler part of that cycle? This is why its surprising that last year was the warmest on record, because it was supposed to be a cold year. Yeah we are in the warmer part of the ice age cycle, but its been that way for the entire human history.

    6. Re:Global Warming? by zippthorne · · Score: 1

      yes, however 1) my original post was that the 11-year (22 magnetic) cycle is not the ONLY cycle to be concerned with and 2) thermal "capacitance" demands that there be some phase difference between solar output and earthly temperatures.

      --
      Can you be Even More Awesome?!
  12. Excellent by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Interesting

    This is excellent, because the Great Red Spot has become less great and less red over recent years. When I first spotted it through a scope, it was a pretty impressive sight. Lately it has changed to become a less intense colour, leading some observers to give it names like "the Great Salmon Spot" or the "Great Brownish Smudge". It is also shrinking - being half the size it was 100 years ago.

    The creation of new spots has been predicted (as part of the rapid "climate change" that has been affecting Jupiter over the past few years) and is all probably cyclical, but I was somehow excited by reading this news.

    1. Re:Excellent by Tablizer · · Score: 1

      This is excellent, because the Great Red Spot has become less great and less red over recent years.

      Part of this is due to the fact that it is inside of darkish cloud bands, whereas in the 70's it was surrounded by mostly white clouds. Thus, it stands out less now.

      --
      Table-ized A.I.
  13. Advice: by Quaoar · · Score: 3, Funny

    I wouldn't hang out with Jupiter for a while...it's "that time" of the millennium, and its a little cranky...

    --
    I'll form my OWN solar system! With blackjack! And hookers!
    1. Re:Advice: by anagama · · Score: 1

      Jupiter is a dude, he doesn't get a "'that time' of the millenium".

      --
      What changed under Obama? Nothing Good
    2. Re:Advice: by jrockway · · Score: 4, Funny

      True, but do you really want to hang out with a "gas giant"? I think not.

      --
      My other car is first.
  14. nothing to see here. by bigmauler · · Score: 1

    These spots have been reclassified. Nothing to see here, move along.

  15. my god... its full of stars by qnxdude · · Score: 0

    perhaps its the merging of a few billion monolyths

  16. Atmosphere probe? by MichaelSmith · · Score: 4, Interesting

    The article doesn't say much about what is causing these huge weather patterns to be so stable on Jupiter, and the reason is that we actually know very little about what goes on underneath the outer layers of cloud.

    Our one and only atmosphere probe was a surprising success, but it was not built to last. A different probe, supported by a balloon rather than a parachute, was flown on venus and it worked well.

    I think it is time to have another go at a jupiter atmosphere probe. This time try for a hot hydrogen balloon, heated by an RTG. If we don't do the basic research we will never understand the biggest planet in our solar system.

    --
    http://michaelsmith.id.au
    1. Re:Atmosphere probe? by agent0range_ · · Score: 1

      We'll have to leave that to the europeans or the chinese, because unless it can be commercially exploited america just isn't interested anymore. I for one can't imagine anything more interesting than pushing the boundaries of our scientific knowledge, but alas I seem to be of a dying breed.

      I think your idea is great, though. Getting there is the hard part, so we should send multiple probes. Also, multiple points of data collection will give us more information on what is going on.

    2. Re:Atmosphere probe? by MotorMachineMercenar · · Score: 1

      I saw a documentary on chaos theory around the time James Gleick's book on the subject came out and this was something they addressed. These researches set two cylinders inside each other and poured colored liquid with particles in it between them. Then they rotated the other cylinder at different speeds. Quite surprisingly at some speed - which of course I can't remember - a steady spot appeared and travelled around, very much like what we see in Jupiter today.

      This was yet another example how chaos sometimes begets (relative) order.

      --
      "We have an A-Bomb...what more do you want, mermaids?" --I.I. Rabi, speaking in defense of Robert Oppenheimer
    3. Re:Atmosphere probe? by LordSnooty · · Score: 1

      How is the US "commercially exploiting" a trip to Pluto with New Horizons, then?

    4. Re:Atmosphere probe? by MichaelSmith · · Score: 1
      Quite surprisingly at some speed - which of course I can't remember - a steady spot appeared and travelled around, very much like what we see in Jupiter today.

      I wonder what happens when you have more than one spot?

      Sorry for the diversion, your description of the experiment reminded me of Sagan's machine.

      --
      http://michaelsmith.id.au
    5. Re:Atmosphere probe? by corrosive_nf · · Score: 1

      I also want to know how the US is "commercially exploiting" the two mars rovers which went 2 years past their intended length of time.

    6. Re:Atmosphere probe? by jrockway · · Score: 0, Redundant

      How? After we Americans finish crapping up this planet with Hummer exhaust and soda cans, we're going to need a new planet to destroy... erm... live on. (Mars is the closest, and it has a hard outer shell suitable for drilling oil, so it's a good candidate for Earth's replacement. Plus the atmosphere doesn't melt lead.)

      Actually, I'm surprised the politicians didn't pick Jupiter -- it's the only thing in the solar system that's more "full of hot air" than them!

      --
      My other car is first.
    7. Re:Atmosphere probe? by amightywind · · Score: 1

      This is a decent summary.

      I think it is time to have another go at a jupiter atmosphere probe. This time try for a hot hydrogen balloon, heated by an RTG. If we don't do the basic research we will never understand the biggest planet in our solar system.

      Of all of the interesting phenomena in the outer solar system I'd say further investigation of Jupiter's atmosphere is down the list. Some missions of greater interest:

      • Neptune/Triton orbiter
      • Titan rover
      • Asteroid sample return
      • Europa orbiter/lander
      --
      an ill wind that blows no good
    8. Re:Atmosphere probe? by ArbitraryConstant · · Score: 1

      "Titan rover"

      I think a balloon might work better there as well. As I understand it, the weather on Titan isn't that active compared to Mars or Earth. With the low gravity and thick atmosphere, a balloon probe could cover a lot more territory and probably still set down on the ground for samples sometimes.

      --
      I rarely criticize things I don't care about.
    9. Re:Atmosphere probe? by DerWulf · · Score: 2, Interesting

      This might be a little off-topic but I'd be glad if somebody cleared that up for me:

      Mars' gravity: 0.376G (Wikipedia)
      Titans' gravity: 0.14G (Wikipedia)

      Mars' atmospheric pressure: around 75% of earths
      Titans' atmospheric pressure: around 150% of earths

      Now, I've always thought that Mars was so cold because the atmosphere was too thin to "hold back the heat". Also, I've been told that Mars atmosphere was thin as it is because Mars gravity was too low to prevent atmosphere to escape into space. Now how come Titan has double the atmospheric pressure than Mars with barely half the gravity? What am I missing?

      --

      ___
      No power in the 'verse can stop me
    10. Re:Atmosphere probe? by ArbitraryConstant · · Score: 1

      "Mars' atmospheric pressure: around 75% of earths"

      No. Mars's average surface pressure is about 7 millibars, compared to about 1000 millibars on Earth. That's not 75%, maybe 0.75%, so Titan's atmosphere would be 200 times thicker.

      "Now, I've always thought that Mars was so cold because the atmosphere was too thin to "hold back the heat"."

      It's also farther from the sun than we are.

      "Also, I've been told that Mars atmosphere was thin as it is because Mars gravity was too low to prevent atmosphere to escape into space."

      I don't know what the mechanism is.

      --
      I rarely criticize things I don't care about.
    11. Re:Atmosphere probe? by snake_dad · · Score: 1
      Also, I've been told that Mars atmosphere was thin as it is because Mars gravity was too low to prevent atmosphere to escape into space.

      In case you're still wondering, Mars has lost most of its magnetic field, which protects against loss of atmosphere caused by solar wind.

      --
      karma capped .sig seeking available Slashdot poster for long-term relationship.
    12. Re:Atmosphere probe? by Shadowmist · · Score: 2, Informative

      One of the key differences is temperature. If Titan were placed in Earth orbit the situation would be dramatically different, the atmosphere and probably a good deal of Titan itself would evaporate and be blown away. However out by Saturn way, the mean temperature is what we call in the technical sense cold.

      Also, Titan's orbit is filled by a toroidal cloud of hydrogen much of what does escape is reabsorbed by the moon itself. Sky and Telescope had a good article about it a decade or two ago.

      A bit of Earth's atmosphere blows out into space as well. Apollo 16 brought back some nice UV photos of the Earth's hydrogen corona, caused by splitting of H20 molecules in the upper atmosphere by UV light. The hydrogen is eventually lost to space but not at a rate that we have to worry about losing our oceans soon... at least not to evaporation.

  17. I'm betting it is herpes by SensitiveMale · · Score: 4, Funny

    After all, he is right next to that slut Saturn.

    1. Re:I'm betting it is herpes by republican+gourd · · Score: 5, Informative

      Err... Saturn is his father.

    2. Re:I'm betting it is herpes by merikari · · Score: 1

      I still bet Uranus is in the mix somewhere.

      --
      My other SIG is a Sauer.
    3. Re:I'm betting it is herpes by Nomad37 · · Score: 1

      That's disgusting. Also illegal.

      --
      Pessimism of the intellect, optimism of the will! - Antonio Gramsci.
    4. Re:I'm betting it is herpes by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Has Tom Cruise been macking on Jupiter, too?

    5. Re:I'm betting it is herpes by AndroidCat · · Score: 1
      And difficult since Jupiter cut off Saturn's thingy and tossed it into the sea. (Where it procreated Venus, who married Vulcan...)

      Tune in next week to Survivor: Olympus and see who gets voted off the pantheon.

      --
      One line blog. I hear that they're called Twitters now.
    6. Re:I'm betting it is herpes by Zaatxe · · Score: 1

      With all those rings? What a fag!

      --
      So say we all
    7. Re:I'm betting it is herpes by sharkey · · Score: 1

      Hey, if you can't keep it in your pants, at least keep it in the family!

      --

      --
      "Outlook not so good." That magic 8-ball knows everything! I'll ask about Exchange Server next.
    8. Re:I'm betting it is herpes by Pathetic+Coward · · Score: 1

      Uranus is Saturn's father and Jupiter's grandfather.

    9. Re:I'm betting it is herpes by dlelash · · Score: 1

      Yeah, it's Venus he needs to worry about.

      [will not insert Uranus joke, will not, will not.....]

    10. Re:I'm betting it is herpes by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      EVEN WORSE! ewwwww

    11. Re:I'm betting it is herpes by Scarletdown · · Score: 1
      That's disgusting. Also illegal.


      And even moreso if it turns out that Jupiter has been banging Pluto in Uranus.

      --
      This space unintentionally left blank.
    12. Re:I'm betting it is herpes by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Actually it was Cronus (Saturn) who cut off Uranus's cock and threw it into the sea.

    13. Re:I'm betting it is herpes by AndroidCat · · Score: 1

      Sorry, I missed that episode. I hear that there's a few different out-take versions.

      --
      One line blog. I hear that they're called Twitters now.
    14. Re:I'm betting it is herpes by aug24 · · Score: 1

      He did say he was a slut.

      J.

      --
      You're only jealous cos the little penguins are talking to me.
  18. Obligatory Chicago comment by gbobeck · · Score: 5, Funny
    "...a storm twice as wide as our planet and at least 300 years old."


    Sounds like the typical Chicago winter...
    --
    Navicula hydraulica plena anguilarum est. Omnes castelli tuus nostri sunt. Ed elli avea del cul fatto trombetta.
    1. Re:Obligatory Chicago comment by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      "twice as wide as our planet and at least 300 years old."

      Sounds like a monster vagina. A really freaking old one, man. Probably all wrinkly and nasty, and full of dead children.

  19. Um by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    The big red spot is actually the width of THREE Earth's.

    But who's counting, right?

  20. The monolith cometh! by qualico · · Score: 1

    Now all we have to do is send a HAL 9000 over there to investigate.

    1. Re:The monolith cometh! by chrisatoremus · · Score: 1

      thay, are you thure about that monolith thing? It'th dthust dthupiter.

      --

      _______

      DIY Linux virus removal:

      1) [root@localhost ~]# rm -rf /

    2. Re:The monolith cometh! by qualico · · Score: 1

      don't forget to spit as you say it.

  21. Oval BA? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    That sounds like a form of indecent exposure. Surely the government needs to form a task force to cover the spot and keep the world safe for the children.

  22. One question by Schemat1c · · Score: 1

    The planet Jupiter is growing a new red spot.

    Is it full of stars?

    --

    "Nobody knows the age of the human race, but everybody agrees that it is old enough to know better." - Unknown
  23. WOW!! by Clueless+Nick · · Score: 0, Redundant

    There seems to be a story in here.

    Just another day at /.

    clueless

    --
    Chat with other atheists http://secularchat.org
  24. hmm. by ilmdba · · Score: 1

    yeah but is it shrinking?

  25. Something wonderful is about to happen! by altan · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    All These Worlds Are Yours Except Entropia. Attempt No Landing There.

  26. A careless copy-paste from Google by altan · · Score: 1, Informative

    It was supposed to be "All these worlds are yours except Europa. Attempt no landing there."

    1. Re:A careless copy-paste from Google by 16777216 · · Score: 0

      How are these off topic they are from 2010. duh!

      --
      I am. Lower your shields and power down your weapons, they are useless. Your biological and technological distinctivenes
    2. Re:A careless copy-paste from Google by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You mean "All these worlds are belong to us," right? (ok, it's lame)

  27. no commet by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    with out reading there dearly neaded ifo...
    i prupore to handle this truely jovian ... purpeterator .. as a living breathing
    entity. damn lucky he's around. so much for meteorites. most impreesive anyway.
    looks like nukes storm on a 24/7 hour.
    dman its ugly.
    stones. we have stones. solid pyramid stones. u need a pyramid blocks
    serious moving, at 1km/sec this is the place to look. sucky eh? nope.
    one big being but not really ... ... ... f#ck wat ... in-control?
    nope ... not fricking ... f#ck wat?
    damn.
    serious. mostly wat other pls would see. beacon here.

  28. I prefer to think of it as... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    ...Jupiter finally growing a pair.

  29. Eek! by jiawen · · Score: 1

    I just watched 2010 tonight... Strange synergy.

  30. Old? by CCFreak2K · · Score: 1

    Oval BA first appeared in the year 2000 when three smaller spots collided and merged.

    That would make this article six years late?

    --
    "Beware of he who would deny you access to information, for in his heart he dreams himself your master."
  31. Ha ha! by kars · · Score: 1

    *points*
    Jupiter's got a hicky, Jupiter's got a hicky!

    --
    Take life easy: one bit at a time.
  32. And... by danwesnor · · Score: 2, Funny

    Meanwhile, back at home, Earth scientists are busy building plausible explanations as to how fossil fuel loving Republicans are behind this major environmental ship on our solar system's largest planet.

    1. Re:And... by danwesnor · · Score: 1

      Garrr!! Shift, not ship. Where's my caffeine...

    2. Re:And... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      And I take it you don't drive a fossil fuel vehicle?

  33. Life on Jupiter? by BRUTICUS · · Score: 2, Interesting

    I've always wondered why a planet like Jupiter couldn't harvest life. I mean, why couldn't another type of life with other needs arise. Why couldn't liquid hydrogen, helium or ice be a source of energy for another lifeform. Plants on earth don't need oxygen.

    1. Re:Life on Jupiter? by Antique+Geekmeister · · Score: 3, Informative

      Raw hydrogen needs to react with something to generate energy. And react it does! You'll almost never find pure hydrogen available except in an environment where it's very hot and breaks down chemicals, or where there's nothing else to combine with (such as the Sun itself). Raw helium reacts with nothing: it's a noble gas, and you can't harvest energy from chemical interactions with it because there are so few that occur. Ice is cold water: the energy available from it was the result of hydrogen combining with oxygen, which released a lot of energy but makes it tough to get any more energy out of it now that it's already turned into water.

      Now, there are levels of Jupiter's atmosphere where more complex and useful molecules are likely, due to pressure and lots of available components. Methane, for example, or other useful hydrocarbons that would have some energy to release and could be used for fuel in various interactions should be quite popular at some levels of that very deep atmosphere. And there are some fascinating proposals for how life could eveolve there. But please actually look them up, and maybe take a basic chemistry course to learn about what "using something for energy" means about the chemicals involved.

    2. Re:Life on Jupiter? by xtieburn · · Score: 1

      Jupiter is vast and im fairly sure the extreme levels of preasure would destroy anything that tried to live on it or in its gasses.

      Also Plants do need oxygen. Just because they thrive on CO2 doesnt mean they dont also utilise Oxygen as well.

    3. Re:Life on Jupiter? by Zerbs · · Score: 1

      I thought that plants do need oxygen, as they respirate at nitetime simmilar to the way animals do. They still produce alot more oxygen in a 24 hour period than they consume though.

      --
      "22 astronauts were born in Ohio. What is it about your state that makes people want to flee the Earth?" Stephen Colbert
  34. Hmmm... by FusionDragon2099 · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    An entire topic about a red spot and no Goatse jokes yet? Is this Slashdot?

    1. Re:Hmmm... by g0bshiTe · · Score: 1

      See one post above yours.

      Well, damn close anyways. http://slashdot.org/~Zaatxe

      --
      I am Bennett Haselton! I am Bennett Haselton!
  35. How are you gentlemen? by Zaatxe · · Score: 1

    All your red spots are belong to us.

    --
    So say we all
  36. hale-bopp by boojumbadger · · Score: 1

    I always said it was an alien armada, now they are building a second ginormous space station. think how much power you could generate from windmills in the upper atmosphere !

  37. Re:Old? Not really. by saskboy · · Score: 3, Informative

    That's what I thought until I noticed the story was from yesterday, and it was because the spot had only recently turned RED from white.

    --
    Saskboy's blog is good. 9 out of 10 dentists agree.
  38. The writing is on the wall by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    We tried to tell everyone, but they wouldn't listen! This is clearly due to global warming!

    Oh, nevermind.

  39. Why red? by Drakin030 · · Score: 1
    Why red? Curiously, no one knows precisely why the Great Red Spot itself is red.
    FROM THE BLOOD OF THOES WHO IT HAS SLAIN!!!!!
  40. (origins by Moldovan playing in the background) by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I WELCOME OUR NEW JOVIAN MASTERS!!!!

    repent monkey boys, your days of bloody cow bones are over!!!

  41. My dog! It's full of rats! by Lispy · · Score: 1

    A dyslexic journey.

    It was one of Slackwares fortunes sometime last week. :)

    1. Re:My dog! It's full of rats! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Seems like the they were trying a little too hard. The word "stars" backwards is "srats", so instead of looking clever, they look stupid.

  42. All these worlds are yours by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Except Europa. Attempt no landing there.

  43. Joke by hedge_death_shootout · · Score: 1

    Post was joke.
    Responded to post blaming terrorists with equally dumb idea.
    Nevertheless, was modded troll.
    Slashdot is so great.

    (BTW: is it really evidence of global warming?!)

  44. This isn't news! by SonicSpike · · Score: 1

    My girlfriend has one of these about once a month...

    Uhh...err...wait... ok... I admit it... my "imaginary girlfriend" :-(

    --
    Libertas in infinitum
  45. oh nos! by BungoMan85 · · Score: 1

    this is probably gonna sound overly sentimental ans stupid. but if the great red spot were to ever disappear during my lifetime i'd probably cry =(. i think it's awesome and i don't want it to ever go away.

    i say more awesome spots for jupiter.

    --
    Bungo!
  46. Jupiter by JerryLs · · Score: 1

    No doubt due to global warming, and we're responsible..

    --
    Ad Astra Per Asper
    1. Re:Jupiter by john89 · · Score: 1

      If only Bush had signed the Kyoto treaty Jupiter wouldn't be in this mess!

    2. Re:Jupiter by chawly · · Score: 1

      My thought exactly !

      --
      How many beans make five, anyhow ? ... Charles Walmsley
  47. No but.... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    the black one was.

  48. Or blimp? by amightywind · · Score: 1

    I agree. NASA might even consider something like this. The Huygen's descent images were so familiar in a way it is easy to forget what a weird place Titan is.

    --
    an ill wind that blows no good
    1. Re:Or blimp? by ArbitraryConstant · · Score: 1

      "NASA might even consider something like this."

      That seems more complicated than necessary. It could simply heat and cool the balloon to alter its buoyancy, as it would have to have radioisotopes for heating and electricity anyway.

      --
      I rarely criticize things I don't care about.
  49. Re:...what you think it means by Anomalyst · · Score: 1

    As you have indicated no advantiage for you or the planet, the word you probably want want is synchronicity.

    synergy: mutually advantageous conjunction or compatibility of distinct business participants or elements
    synchronicity: coincidental occurrence of events that seem related but are not explained by conventional mechanisms of causality
    /pedantic>

    --
    There is no right to feel safe thru security vaudeville at the expense of everyone's freedom, privacy and tax money.
  50. Harvest life? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    With such high internal pressures, it probably did harvest whatever life was there, thus our inablility do detect any - or did you mean "harbor"?