The Benton weekly record. [volume] (Benton, Mont.) 1880-1885, 1883-05-19
What is the Matter with Jupiter?

Late in the summer of 1878 something
happened on the planet Jupiter which i'm
mediately excited the attention of astrono-
mers the world over, and gave rise to no
end of curious speculations. South of the
southern equatorial belt of the planet An
oblong red spot suddenly made its appear
ance. 1t was SO large and its color SO pro-
nouneed that even the smallest telescopes
readily and clearly showed it. Jupiter is
world in comparison with which this
earth is insignificant. In order to circum-
navigate Jupiter sea captain would have
to sail AS far as from the earth to the moon
and then 60 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 Oh the
earth they would be more than 30, 900 miles
apart. tits no wonder, then, that the as
tronomers felt little excitemnnt when
they saw huge red spot suddenly appear
on the face of Jupiter, as if a pugilistie
comet had hit the giant planet blow from
the shoulder and drawn blood. The red
spot was some 80, 900 miles long and 900
miles broad-big enough to encircle the
earth like a grand marshal's sash, withs
5000 miles to spare. Yet on Jupiter this
huge spot resemhled small red blotch on
an apple. Everybody who looked at it
with telescope felt an irresistible desire
to know what it was. Some guessed it
was one ofthe red-hot continents of the vet
burning planet thrust up through the
superintendent vapors by some internal
convulsion, such as lifted up great masses
of the earth.s crust In It's early geologioaI
days, Others supInized that 1t might be
an opening rent through the cloudy envel-
ope of the planet showing its glowing sur
face beneath Some thought it was red
cloud, and some that 1t was a fiery Stag
cast up from the planetary furnace be-
meath. 1t was soon discovered that it had
motion OF its own-at least that it per-
formed its revolution around the planet in
period different from that of some light
spots near the equator. This only served
to intensity the curiosity of beholders,
Unexpectedly, last fall the great spot
began to fade. 4 veil seemed 70 have been
drawn over 1t, and all its outlines grew
faint. Like fiery monster which had
only come to the surface to breathe, it
seemed to be sinking back again into the
depths of Jupiter's cloud ocean. The
latest news regarding this phenomenon is
that it has practically ceased to be visible.
The astronomical monthlies have stopped
printing tables giving the time of its meri-
dian passage, and only the most gigantic
telescopes are able to give slight glimpses
of the disappearing monster.
But while one wonder is going off the
stage, another comes on. OF late the gen.
eral appearance of Jupiter's surface has
greatly changed. Some power appears to
be at work changing not only the forms,
but the colors of the planets belts and
spots, and Jupiter is now exciting univer-
sal admiration by the brilliant appearance
of his broad disk, streaked and mottled
with delicate tints of pink, red, sepia, and
steel blue. What is happening on the
great planet nobody knows, but it looks as
though it would be very unquiet place Of
abode for any but a lace Of salamanders.