Jupiter's Spot
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And it’s at least 400 years old…
One wonders why it’s red.
Phosphorus compounds would be a good bet… but no-one’s sure yet. And apparently it’s not been particularly red recently.
One of my presentations for Astronomy classes is Jupiter's Great Red Spot !!!
Shouldn't that be a topic of meteorology, or does the extraterrestrial location disqualify it for that?
Oh, H.M, you're such a hairsplitter!
Would you allow 'geologist' for someone who studies Moon rocks?
Touché, finrod. However my own dictionary makes geology's specific relation to this planet quite clear, though with meteorology it does not. In the same lexicon, it defines astronomy as "the science of the universe in which the stars, planets, etc. are studied, including their origins, evolution, composition, motions, relative positions, sizes, etc." It ends there, so I suppose planetary weather patterns may be included in the second "etc." However, if that is the case, then one would certainly include earth in the word "planets," in which case, one must conclude that if the study of Jupiter's weather is astronomy, then so should be the study of our own weather. Am I mistaken?
I've said elsewhere that you're a worthy opponent! I see your point, and you argue it cogently.
I think the root of this nomenclature problem lies in the fact that when I was younger, the best view you could get of Jupiter or Saturn was... let me think... fairly grainy and always obscured by the movement of our atmosphere (the same effect that makes stars - but not planets - twinkle or 'scintillate'), and words for such studies simply didn't exist yet
I think I will differ with your view (how daring!). I would define astronomy as: "the science of the universe in which the stars, other planets, etc. are studied, including their origins, evolution, composition, motions, relative positions, sizes, etc."
Remember that until the Renaissance, all 'planets' meant was 'wanderers' (against the background of the 'fixed' stars) and the 'only ' world that existed was ours. I will agree with you that - as so often - language is imperfect and that Jupiter's - or any other known planet's - weather overlaps heavily into the realm of the meteorologists.
Those last five words sound like a good book title...
Regarding the Red Spot the science you are looking for might be exometeorology (just like there is exogeology, also called planetary geology, or, strangely enough, exobiology).
Let me just add: astronomy does very well deal with the earth - it's a planet after all. Just like biology deals with humans. Only that, say, anthropology is slightly more specific in this regard.
Yes, very well put, bel. I see what you're getting at about Earth being a planet - of which, you will recall, we presently have eight in our system - but I didn't want to get bogged down in semantics, and decided a historical rather than contemporary approach might be more informative.
Also, to be honest, I needed to break off and go cook dinner!
Historically, hm, true. Wasn't "the earth is just another planet" the punch-line of Kepler kicking geocentrism's butt? Since then I think, the Earth has been an important subject matter for astronomy. It was for example the only planet we could dig a hole into and grab a handful of dirt for further investigation. Quite important to learn about planetary formation and other neat stuff.
Just an addendum: exometeorology might be said to have started between 1962 (first Venus fly-by) and 1967 (first in situ probe in Venus atmosphere) although Jupiter's climate was already under close observation in the 1930s.
(Side note: How comes that I just now feel the desire to pick up Eco's The Search for the Perfect Language?)
After you with the Eco! And thank you, we dined well today. Mind you, we always do when I cook it...
You slipped up, for once. You meant geocentrism, I think. I do not know the Kepler 'quote' and could not find anything concrete on the Net.
Hmm... yes, if astronomy is about planets and similar, we only have one that we can readily dig into and watch the weather of.. .
I'll give up at that point. Let's call it all Science. After all, the word is just from the Latin for Knowledge (scientia).
I wonder if Jana's paying any attention to our ramblings?
I was sleepin, Finrod. XD
My Astronomy presentation topic for a planet was 'Jupiter'. I'm sorry if that confused you, Hideous Master.
Jupiter's Great Red Spot is the most important point besides its magnetosphere n rings.
Astronomy combines areas from a number of other fields, include mathematics, chemistry, geology, biology and physics. Astronomy is the studyin of stars, planets, galaxies n other object that make up our sky. We talked bout how to observing solar system by usin various kinda telescopes, and the astronomical ideas of ancient greek philosophers n scientists, International Space Station, terraforming Mars, the changin our four seasons (meteorology), meassuring the distance of stars, asterism.........we also talked about ALIEN !!hehe
IMHO, anythin n everythin related to the universe is Astronomy.. XD
Peace out
Well, I slept through most of that discussion. I'm not going to disagree with either one of you. I mean, I was simply quoting a dictionary, and drawing insight from what it said… I obviously can't expect my own dictionary to be perfect. I just like starting discussions. I do like the concept of calling it "exometeorology" though. Earlier, I was attempting to think of a prefix that would specify the extraterrestrial location, but "exo-" eluded me. I simply didn't know whether the spot would be considered astronomy or not. I wasn't trying to ruin Jana's report, or anything though.
dont worry, u were rite HM n u think hard XD