AST101H5 Chapter Notes - Chapter 10: Galilean Moons, Compressed Hydrogen, Atmospheric Circulation
Document Summary
Largest planet our solar system both in radius and mass. Alternating dark belts and white zones create jupiter"s great red spot . Spectra from reflected sunlight show that jupiter"s atmosphere is mostly: Theoretical calculations suggests that jupiter"s clouds are particles of water ice and ammonia compounds. Their colors come from complex organic molecules or compounds of sulfur or phosphorus. Time lapse pictures show that jupiter"s clouds move swiftly, sweeping over the planet in jet streams that are far faster than on earth. Jupiter rotates once every 10 hours, spinning so fast its equator bulges significantly. Astronomers rely on theory to tell them about the interior of this planet. Jupiter is much less dense than earth, with an average density only slightly greater than water. This tells us that the bulk of the planet is must be comprised of very light elements such as hydrogen.
