FreeLists / az-observing / [AZ-Observing] Re: Jupiter

[DBogan3220@xxxxxxx]

In a message dated 6/7/2004 9:51:45 AM US Mountain Standard Time, 
mikeloftus@xxxxxxxxx writes:
A friend of mine in Prescott wrote and asked the following questions.  Would
anyone care to elaborate?
Mike

I have always been told that Jupiter is a giant ball of gas that is
primarily hydrogen.
1.  Why don't the immense lightening bolts that occur on Jupiter ignite the
planet?
2.  Since Jupiter is a "gas ball", why did the comet (string of pearls) make
such a huge visible explosive impact when it hit the "surface".   There is
no surface, just gas!

Dave

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      Jupiter does not ignite because there is no oxygen in the atmosphere or 
so little that it don't matter. Jupiter is also Ammonia and methane as well. 
The current model of Jupiter's structure goes something like this, the 
atmosphere is gas until at some depth probably around 2000 miles from the cloud 
tops 
the atmosphere turns to a liquid slush then eventually ice. Another curious 
thing about some model's of the interior of the planet has a silicate structure 
in the interior forming the core under tremendous pressure. Another core model 
has the Hydrogen under such density it assumes the properties of a metal and 
can conduct huge electrical currents hence the massive magnetic field that 
surrounds the planet

     The comet impacts did make there mark on the cloud tops and did persist 
for several month's. BTW the explosion clouds marking the impact points each 
were larger than the earth. 

      Now how about this from the top of my head. Did not even look anything 
up nor did I google  :-)

      Clear Skies
      Dwight L Bogan


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