Here you go Oberon!

[eddie]

With our common interest in space flight, I thought you might like to see this. Right now, we have a spacecraft called "Juno" in space in the early part of its flight to Jupiter. Right now it is 300 million miles from Earth (500 million kilometers for you metric types,lol) and its starting to head back towards us. It will pass by Earth in 2013, using a gravity assist to launch it on its long journey to Jupiter, which it will get there sometime in 2016.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/48852986/ns/technology_and_science-space/

When it was 6 million miles out, it turned its camera towards the Earth and made a great snapshot not only of earth, but the moon also. The article didn't have that picture in it, so I went looking for it and found it here on this web page. What I thought was great about it, besides the picture is the description of oue little Blue Planet that was written by Dr. Carl Sagan. Puts a lot of things in perspective I think.

http://blogs.agu.org/wildwildscience/2011/09/01/a-lonely-speck-in-the-great-enveloping-cosmic-dark/

Now, a little trivia question. Looking at a picture of Jupiter, how many planets the size of Earth, would fit inside the reddish orange spot? (Which is a giant never ending storm up there I believe) The answer will give you some kind of idea as to how big Jupiter really is!!

[Oberon]

:rock:

I love that quote from Sagan about the little blue dot. It says it all for me, that in the grand scale of the universe, we are but tiny specks. Which at the same time makes our mere existence a marvel in that we have beaten the odds to get this far.

In answer to the trivia question, I believe the red spot is the size of two to three Earths. The scale is mind boggling.

[yubba]

Makes me feel,, like such a p on. was a nice poem, for, all who ever was and, for all who will ever be, there on that blue dot. You know what let's not screw it up for our kids.

[eddie]

:rock:

I love that quote from Sagan about the little blue dot. It says it all for me, that in the grand scale of the universe, we are but tiny specks. Which at the same time makes our mere existence a marvel in that we have beaten the odds to get this far.

In answer to the trivia question, I believe the red spot is the size of two to three Earths. The scale is mind boggling.

You are correct sir! According to this site, 3 earths is the number. It also says that if we combined all the planets( in our system) into one, except for Jupiter, Jupiter would still be bigger!:huh:

Great site here about Jupiter-
http://www.giantworlds.org/meetthegiants/jupiter.php

[Sailor Steve]

Here's a set of pictures I've always liked for comparing sizes.
http://www.imagineeringezine.com/e-zine/small-world_1.htm

[eddie]

That's a nice site Sailer Steve, kind of small aren't we!:haha:

[Sailor Steve]

Everything is relative. Compared to Mercury we're huge! :rock:

[Red October1984]

I know a bit about space flight. But this thread here got me thinking...I guess I never realized how small and insignificant we are compared to the universe and whatever may be out there.

Standing at 6 foot 2 inches I am taller than most I know, but...I am small to the world and universe.

The thread has in a way, blown my mind.


I just wish Space Flight was as easy as it was in Star Wars. :D

[Lionclaw]

Here's a image I've always liked. :)

http://www.nasaimages.org/luna/servlet/detail/nasaNAS~20~20~121023~227726:All-Planet-Sizes (http://www.nasaimages.org/luna/servlet/detail/nasaNAS%7E20%7E20%7E121023%7E227726:All-Planet-Sizes)

[u crank]

This is interesting.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dv6OtEnIAQk

[eddie]

I book marked that page Lionclaw, thanks for that!:salute:

That's a great video u crank, it does put it in a different perspective!:up:

Red, you mentioned Star Wars, which reminded me of this article I read the other day. The truth is stranger then fiction I guess,lol

http://news.yahoo.com/two-alien-planets-found-twin-suns-star-wars-225046375.html

[RickC Sniper]

You are correct sir! According to this site, 3 earths is the number. It also says that if we combined all the planets( in our system) into one, except for Jupiter, Jupiter would still be bigger!:huh:



Not 3 earths. It is 300 earths, is it not?

[eddie]

That numer is generally concidered as the number of earth sized planets that could fit inside Jupiter itself, I believe.

Scientists studying Jupiters "spot" have determined that its size has shrunk 15% between 1996 and 2006. It will eventually dissapate but will be replaced by another, there are hundreds of storms on Jupiter all the time.

[Sailor Steve]

Not 3 earths. It is 300 earths, is it not?
It's roughly 3 earths across from east to west and 1.75 earths across from north to south if the 40,000 x 14,000 km size is correct. If the 20,000 x 12,000 km number is correct, then it is only 2 earths across and 1 earth high.


The GRS rotates counterclockwise, with a period of about six Earth daysor 14 Jovian days. Its dimensions are 24–40,000 km west–to–east and 12–14,000 km south–to–north. The spot is large enough to contain two or three planets the size of Earth. At the start of 2004, the Great Red Spot had approximately half the longitudinal extent it had a century ago, when it was 40,000 km in diameter. At the present rate of reduction it could potentially become circular by 2040, although this is unlikely because of the distortion effect of the neighboring jet streams. It is not known how long the spot will last, or whether the change is a result of normal fluctuations.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atmosphere_of_Jupiter

[RickC Sniper]

Ah, I misread. I thought the comparison was between earth and Jupiter. I missed the spot reference entirely. :oops:
Geeze I'm getting old.
AND blind.
:O:

[eddie]

Ah, I misread. I thought the comparison was between earth and Jupiter. I missed the spot reference entirely. :oops:
Geeze I'm getting old.
AND blind.
:O:

Not a problem Rick, and I know how you feel!:D

[Sailor Steve]

Geeze I'm getting old.
AND blind.
:O:
You and me both, brother. :cry:

[eddie]

I think the politically correct way to express this is that we are having "Senior Moments"!:haha:

[u crank]

http://www.emailjokez.com/thumb/4621_63411_46210_1._1-

[Sailor Steve]

I think the politically correct way to express this is that we are having "Senior Moments"!:haha:
Mine started about ten years ago. Hasn't stopped yet.

[eddie]

Its like the Energizer bunny, it just keeps goin' and goin'!