Here you go Oberon!

eddie · 08-31-12, 04:32 PM

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...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...g-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 · 08-31-12, 05:24 PM

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 · 08-31-12, 05:54 PM

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 · 08-31-12, 06:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oberon

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!

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

Sailor Steve · 08-31-12, 06:56 PM

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

eddie · 08-31-12, 07:13 PM

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

Sailor Steve · 08-31-12, 08:50 PM

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

Red October1984 · 08-31-12, 11:56 PM

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.

Lionclaw · 09-01-12, 01:52 AM

Here's a image I've always liked.

http://www.nasaimages.org/luna/servlet/detail/nasaNAS~20~20~121023~227726:All-Planet-Sizes

u crank · 09-01-12, 05:27 AM

This is interesting.

eddie · 09-01-12, 10:36 AM

I book marked that page Lionclaw, thanks for that!

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

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-plan...225046375.html

RickC Sniper · 09-02-12, 04:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eddie

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!

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

eddie · 09-02-12, 06:22 PM

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 · 09-02-12, 06:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RickC Sniper

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.

Quote:

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 · 09-02-12, 08:05 PM

Ah, I misread. I thought the comparison was between earth and Jupiter. I missed the spot reference entirely.

Geeze I'm getting old.
AND blind.

08-31-12, 04:32 PM	#1
eddie Ocean Warrior Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Minnesota Posts: 3,023 Downloads: 99 Uploads: 0	Here you go Oberon! 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...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...g-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!! __________________ Don't mistake my kindness for weakness. I'm kind to everyone, but when someone is unkind to me, weak is not what you are going to remember about me. Al Capone

08-31-12, 06:56 PM	#5
Sailor Steve Eternal Patrol Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: High in the mountains of Utah Posts: 50,369 Downloads: 745 Uploads: 249	Here's a set of pictures I've always liked for comparing sizes. http://www.imagineeringezine.com/e-z...ll-world_1.htm __________________ “Never do anything you can't take back.” —Rocky Russo

08-31-12, 07:13 PM	#6
eddie Ocean Warrior Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Minnesota Posts: 3,023 Downloads: 99 Uploads: 0	That's a nice site Sailer Steve, kind of small aren't we! __________________ Don't mistake my kindness for weakness. I'm kind to everyone, but when someone is unkind to me, weak is not what you are going to remember about me. Al Capone

08-31-12, 08:50 PM	#7
Sailor Steve Eternal Patrol Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: High in the mountains of Utah Posts: 50,369 Downloads: 745 Uploads: 249	Everything is relative. Compared to Mercury we're huge! __________________ “Never do anything you can't take back.” —Rocky Russo

08-31-12, 11:56 PM	#8
Red October1984 Airplane Nerd Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Texas Posts: 6,243 Downloads: 115 Uploads: 0	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. __________________

08-31-12, 05:24 PM	#2
Oberon Lucky Jack Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 25,976 Downloads: 61 Uploads: 20	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.

08-31-12, 05:54 PM	#3
yubba Admiral Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: in a neighborhood near you Posts: 2,478 Downloads: 293 Uploads: 2	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.

09-01-12, 01:52 AM	#9
Lionclaw Ace of the Deep Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 1,006 Downloads: 5 Uploads: 0	Here's a image I've always liked. http://www.nasaimages.org/luna/servlet/detail/nasaNAS~20~20~121023~227726:All-Planet-Sizes

09-01-12, 05:27 AM	#10
u crank Old enough to know better Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Prince Edward Island Posts: 11,744 Downloads: 136 Uploads: 0	This is interesting. __________________ “Two possibilities exist: either we are alone in the Universe or we are not. Both are equally terrifying.” ― Arthur C. Clarke

09-01-12, 10:36 AM	#11
eddie Ocean Warrior Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Minnesota Posts: 3,023 Downloads: 99 Uploads: 0	I book marked that page Lionclaw, thanks for that! That's a great video u crank, it does put it in a different perspective! 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-plan...225046375.html __________________ Don't mistake my kindness for weakness. I'm kind to everyone, but when someone is unkind to me, weak is not what you are going to remember about me. Al Capone

09-02-12, 06:22 PM	#13
eddie Ocean Warrior Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Minnesota Posts: 3,023 Downloads: 99 Uploads: 0	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. __________________ Don't mistake my kindness for weakness. I'm kind to everyone, but when someone is unkind to me, weak is not what you are going to remember about me. Al Capone

09-02-12, 08:05 PM	#15
RickC Sniper Undetectable Join Date: Sep 1999 Location: Colorado Posts: 1,221 Downloads: 132 Uploads: 0	Ah, I misread. I thought the comparison was between earth and Jupiter. I missed the spot reference entirely. Geeze I'm getting old. AND blind. __________________ Support Subsim http://www.subsim.com/store.html