Jupiter Is Missing a Belt 187
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."
Wow, this is pretty serious. (Score:5, Funny)
I left my belt in a hotel once so I know what this is like.
It's the Monolith (Score:5, Funny)
Missing belt? (Score:5, Funny)
Check Uranus.
Prototype (Score:1, Funny)
Maybe Jupiter will be releasing a new gen iBelt soon?
It's global warming (Score:2, Funny)
Great masses will often loosen or lose their belts altogether to combat increases in temperature. Ask Earth.
Shy planet? (Score:5, Funny)
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...
Fashion (Score:5, Funny)
You're supposed to update your wardrobe in the spring.
2010 (Score:5, Funny)
"My God! It's full of stars!"
At least we get to use almost all the moons....
Everybodylookatthemoon. (Score:3, Funny)
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!
Re:Wow, this is pretty serious. (Score:5, Funny)
Wrapped around the dowel in the closet no doubt.
Do be careful with that kind of play, you don't want to end up like David Caradine
Re:Wow, this is pretty serious. (Score:5, Funny)
Mystery Solved (Score:5, Funny)
Roseanne Barr wanted her belt back.
Re:Fashion (Score:5, Funny)
Yeah, well... what season is it on Jupiter anyway?
Jupiter only has one season. It is called Crush-To-Death-And-Fry-With-Radiation. Happy CruToDaFrWiRad to you fellow Jovian.
Jupiter is white... (Score:5, Funny)
Jupiter is white,
Uranus is blue,
In Soviet Russia,
Jupiter stripes you!
Excellent. (Score:3, Funny)
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.
The belt DIDN'T disappear (Score:1, Funny)
It just slipped to a more southerly latitude just below the great Jovian beer gut.
Pants on the Ground (Score:3, Funny)
Jupiter finally heard Gen. Larry Platt's song, became embarrassed, and finally hiked that belt up North where it belonged.
Except Europa. (Score:2, Funny)
Except Europa. Attempt no landing there.
Re:Shy planet? (Score:3, Funny)
Actually, the real answer is that Jupiter is just so fat that you can't see the belt.
Re:Shy planet? (Score:4, Funny)
Okay fine...Your momma's so fat that Jupiter gave her its belt!
We hAve (Score:3, Funny)
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...
KHAN! (Score:0, Funny)
KHAN!
as if Jupiter could be 'inferior' (Score:2, Funny)
Re:That explains it (Score:1, Funny)
Now I know why Jupiter's pants keep falling down.
Pants on the ground,
Pants on the ground,
Lookin' like a FOOL with your Pants on the ground.
This is the ???? we've been waiting for! (Score:2, Funny)
Simpsons (Score:3, Funny)
My theory... (Score:2, Funny)
I lost a... (Score:3, Funny)
Re:Missing belt? (Score:2, Funny)
Yes, a better one (which I would have made an f/p if I'd seen this sooner) would be:
"Hey ass-tronomers: will this make it easier to see Uranus?"
Re:Excellent. (Score:2, Funny)
Oops! (Score:3, Funny)
Re:Juno/EJSM? (Score:1, Funny)
Re:kid all you want (Score:5, Funny)
Re:It's the Monolith (Score:4, Funny)
OMG yes!
Asimov forecast this is "2010: A Space Oddity".
The monkeys are going to take over, so I'm off to buy bananas... !
Your geek card has been revoked under the Clarke-Asimov treaty of 1972.