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Jupiter Is Missing a Belt
mbone writes "Jupiter just went through Superior Conjunction (i.e., went behind the Sun as seen from the Earth), so it has been out of view for a while. Now that it has returned, it is different — the South Equatorial Belt (SEB) is missing. The SEB has about 10 times the surface area of the Earth, so this is not a small change. Here are a series of photos of Jupiter's new look. The Great Red Spot typically inhabits the southern border of the SEB, but it doesn't seem to be affected by the change. It's a pity that this happened at Superior Conjunction, and that there is no satellite in Jupiter orbit, so details of the change are largely missing. The SEB has previously gone missing in 1973 and 1990. Since no one really knows what makes the Jovian belts, no one knows why they disappear either. If the belts are really just material from deeper layers coming to the surface, it is possible that the convection has stopped for some reason, or that high-altitude clouds have covered it over."
I left my belt in a hotel once so I know what this is like.
Dear Slashdot: next time you want to mess with the site, add a rich-text editor for comments.
Sorry, there is no other explanation! Did you look at the date recently?
Check Uranus.
Great masses will often loosen or lose their belts altogether to combat increases in temperature. Ask Earth.
http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn18889-jupiter-loses-a-stripe.html
anon post to not kharma ho
Jupiter's a shy planet. He doesn't like changing his undies when being watched, so he waited until he could hide behind the Sun. That also explains why the part missing is brown. Nothing like freshly-laundered underwear for the first time in 20 years...
"This post contains words, known to the State of California to cause thought. Wash brain thoroughly after reading."
You're supposed to update your wardrobe in the spring.
"My God! It's full of stars!"
At least we get to use almost all the moons....
He's so bright and milky white / Shining down upon the ground / He's the bright, milky white / Shining down upon the ground / Everybody look at the moon / Everybody seein' the moon / The moon is bright / He's milky white / Everybody look at the moon / Uh! ::smiles::
Heey! I did a song! Jupiter, I did a song! You ain't got one! Heey!
Living With a Nerd
Roseanne Barr wanted her belt back.
I've calculated my velocity with such exquisite precision that I have no idea where I am.
Jupiter is white,
Uranus is blue,
In Soviet Russia,
Jupiter stripes you!
If you speak from personal experience, then you sir are far more hardcore than I.
If I'm not mistaken, I think the internet gives out medals for this sort of depravity. At the very least you might get lucky and find a newsgroup of similarly minded individuals.
Personally, I'm not sure whether I should congratulate you or back away from you slowly.
If I had a nickel for every time I had a nickel, I'd be richcursive!
We really need a Cassini-like mission around Jupiter. Ground-based observations are just amazing, but think of the science we could do at Jupiter!
Juno won't be launched until 2011, and it's mission is only going to be one year (although we've seen how these things can be extended). EJSM seems promising, but that's still 10 years from launch.
And there don't seem to be any plans for Uranus and Neptune. What a shame.
Jupiter finally heard Gen. Larry Platt's song, became embarrassed, and finally hiked that belt up North where it belonged.
Except Europa. Attempt no landing there.
The Future of Human Evolution: Autonomy
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2009_Jupiter_impact_event + Missing Belt = Scary
We haVe yoUre beLT, anD if YoU eVer wiSh tO sEe It aGaiN, yoU mUsT PlaCe onE mIlliOn DoLlaRs in uNmaRked biLls In a tO bE annOunCed uNdisCloseD loCatIon...
Who would win this election: Andrew Weiner vs Andrew Weiner's weiner.
http://www.theonion.com/articles/jupiters-liberals-worried-about-their-ammonia-foot,17419/
"Jupiter just went through Superior Conjunction (i.e., went behind the Sun as seen from the Earth)" ...wake me when Jupiter passes between the sun and the earth ("inferior conjunction"?), or on second thought, don't.
And now, we profit!
"Hey Simpson, wanna trade belts?" "Well, not really.. My belt is really cool, and yours is just an extension cord" "Hey man, he's ragging on your cord! Get him!"
The invasion fleet left Jupiter.
whole belt on NutraSystem!
In 1990 and 2010, Saturn and Jupiter were in Superior Conjunction. In 1973, that condition had just passed.
Any chance that the Allais Effect with Jupiter, Sun, Saturn syzygy might be at work here? I know the Allais Effect is a quirky, difficult-to-replicate condition, but perhaps this is another data point.
Solar system continuity error. The editors at NASA that control the view of the night sky must be ashamed.
Dewey, you fool! Your decimal system has played right into my hands!
How dare you trivialize this issue by referring to it as "jovial". This is not endowed with or characterized by hearty, joyous humor! We've got to take this sort of thing more seriously if anything's going to happen.
but have you considered the following argument: shut up.