The Delta independent., 1889-11-26
JuPlrER.s WONDERS.
Remarkable Character OF Recent


Remarkable Character OF Recent
Discoveries.
Astronomers have OF late been max.
Ing soma exceedingly interesting dis
coveries about the huge planet Jupiter,
SO says the N. Y. Sun. which is now
visible in the evening sky. When we
are thinking about worlds it is just as
we'll to think of Jupiter. for that is a
globe worth pondering over. Thirteen
hundred times as large as this big
earth of ours, and illuminated by four
obedient moons, Jupiter has uncom-
mon claims to consideration. But it is
not SO much the gigantic size Of that
wonderful planet as the extraordinary
appearances and occurrences upon its
surface that command particular at
tention at present.
Most readers know that when Jupi-
ter is looked at with telescope GER
tain bands, or belts, are seen extend
ing in parallel lines across its disk.
We ordinarily see the great planet
thus represented in illustrated books
OF astronomy. 1t is among these belts
OF Jupiter that the astronomers have
observed some very surprising things.
The most conspicuous belts lie on
either side Of the planets equator, in
what upon the earth we should call the
tropical latitudes. Jupiter's equator,
however, is so slightly inclined from
the plane OF his orbit that mis- tropical
circles do not extend us far north and
south as the belts lie. The first ex-
PLANTATION that naturally occurs to the
observer who watches these belts is
that they must be enormous bands
OF cloud encircling the giant planet
on each side OF its equator. IL he has
powerful telescope and patient
mind he discovers that changes OF form
and position occur in the belts, which
stregthen the probability that they
are composed of clouds. The various
colors that they show, and in particular
the prevailing red tint which charac-
terizes the largest belts, may excite
wonder Us to the nature and condition
OF masses OF vapor that could present
such an appearance, but upon the
whole there seems to be nothing to
seriously discredit the idea that the
greater number Of these phenomena
really are clouds.
And now We come to the most sur
prising facts. 1t is evident that tre-
mendous current is continually sweep
ing right around the huge globe OF
Jupiter over its equatorial regions.
The cloud belts are all in motion, but
not all with the same velocity. The
nearer they are to the equator the
faster they move. The observations
OF Mr.. Stanley Williams and others
show that in the north temperate zone
there is broad light band encircling
the planet which may possibly be the
actual surface OF Jupiters globe. By
comparing the rate OF motion OF cloud
like objects seen In this region with
that of the adjacent cloud belt it is
found that the latter is moving much
more swiftly. The general period OF
Jupiter's rotation upon its axis, not
withstanding the enormous size OF the
planet, appears bo be little short OF
tan hours. But the equatorial clouds
go around in about nine hours and fifty
minutes, while the cloudo 30'' north
and south OF the equator require five
minutes longer to complete circuit.
In other words, the equatorial part OF
the atmosphere appears to be flowing
past the regions on either side OF it at
the rate of some 240 miles an hour!
This. as NJ. Flammarion has remarked.
is incomparably faster than the most
violent cyclone upon the earth. And
this gigantic current OF wind. II so
it may be called forms perpetual
hurricane, blowing around Jupiter as
unremittingly as our trade winds, but
with inconceivable power and energy.
The result. of the varying velocities
with which adjacent portions OF the
Jovian atmosphere appear to move
should naturally be the formation OF
enormous whirling storms, and lorna
does Of incredible fury.