Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-05-05
What Is the Matter with Jupiter
the New York Snn

What Is the Matter with Jupitcrl
From the New York Sun.
Late In the summer of 1878 something hap
pened on the planet Jupiter which Immediately
excited the attention of astronomers the world
over and gave rise to no end of curious specu-
lations. South OF the southern equatorial belt
OF the planet an Oblong red spot suddenly made
It's appearance. 1t was so large and it's color
was so pronounced that even the smallest teles-
copes readily and clearly showed it. Jupiter is
world in comparison with which this earth ia
insignificant. In order to circumnavigate Jupi-
ter sea captain would have to sail as far as
from rom the earth to the moon. and then go on a
distance greater than the circumference of the
earth In addition. If New York and San Francisco
were set down on the surface of Jupiter at
points corresponding to their positions on the
earth they would be more than sc, 1000 miles
apart. It Is no no wonder, then, that the astrono-
mers felt little excitement when they saw a
huge red spot suddenly appear on the face of
Jupiter, as If puglistic comet had hit the giant
planet blow from the shoulder and drawn
blood The red spot was some &c. 600 miles long
and6, VOo miles broad-big enough to encircle the
earth like grand marshals sash, with 5000
miles to spare. Yet on Jupiter this huge spot
resembled small red blotch on an apple
Everybody who looked at it with tele-
scope felt an Irresistible desire to
know what it was Some guessed II
was one OF the red-hot continents of the vet
burning planent thrust up through the superin-
cumbent vapOrs by some internal convulsion.
such as lifted up great masses of the earth's
crust In Its early geological days. Others sur
missed that it might be an opening rent through
the cloudy envelope Of the planet and showing
It's glowing surface beneath. Some thought it
was red cloud, and some that 1t was a fiery
Stag cast up from the planetary furnace
beneath. 1t was soon discovered that It had A
motion of Its Own-at least that It performed
Its revolution around the planet in a period diff
ferent from that Of some light spots near the
equator. This only served to intensity the curl
Osty Of behOlders.
Unexpectedly last fall the great spot began
to fade. veil seemed to have been drawn
over 1t, and all Its outlines grew faint. Like a
merry monster which had only come to the sur-
lace to breathe, it seemed to be sinking back
again into the depths Of Jupiters cloud ocean.
Inc LATEST news regarding this phenomenon is
mat II has practically ceased to be visible. The
astronomical monthies have stopped printing
| tables giving the time Of its meridian passage
ana only the most gigantic telescopes are able
10 give slight glimpses of the disappearing
monster.
But while one wonder is going of the stare
another comes on OF late the general appesr,
ance of Jupiter's surface has greatly Changed.
Some power appears to be at work changing
not Only the FORMS but the cOlOrs of the planet 3
belts and spots, and Jupiter is now exciting uni-
versal admiration by the brilliant appearance of
his broad disk streaked and mOttied with deli
cate tints Of pink, red, sepia and steel blue.
what Is happening on the great planet nobody
| KNOWS, but 1t looks as though It would be a yery
unqulet place OF abode for any but race of sal