[AZ-Observing] Re: Jupiter
- From: DBogan3220@xxxxxxx
- To: az-observing@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Mon, 7 Jun 2004 22:16:41 EDT
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
--
See message header for info on list archives or unsubscribing, and please
send personal replies to the author, not the list.
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
--
See message header for info on list archives or unsubscribing, and please
send personal replies to the author, not the list.
Other related posts:
