ASTR 3 Lecture 10: ASTRO- LEC 10/29
Document Summary
Less mass less gravity less compression. Jupiter has a strong magnetic field generated by its rotating, convection layer of metallic hydrogen. Ammonia, the highest coldest layer, reflects white. Shoemaker -levy impact reveals deeper into jupiter"s atmosphere. Saturn"s layers are the same, but deeper in with less sunlight. Upper layers of atmosphere are colder still, allowing methane to condense and mix with hydrogen. Methane gas absorbs red light and transmits blue light, which is then reflected back by lower methane ice clouds. All jovian planets have strong winds and storms. Adaptive optics: helps see planets and stars in more detail. Far more numerous than the medium and large moons. Not enough gravity to be spherical: potato-shaped . They are likely captured asteroids, so orbits do not follow usual patterns. Orbits can be tilted, elliptical, and even backwards! Larger tidal bulges when closer to jupiter. Europa"s interior also warmed by tidal heating.
