The state herald., 1889-11-22
IuPlrER.s WONDERS.
Remark abIo Character Of Recent
Discoveries

''~'''s~s .NS~1so VITAL VI nGSoNv
Discoveries.
Astronomers have OF late boon max.
Ing some exceedingly interesting dis
coveries about tho hugo planet Jupiter
so says tho N. Y. Sun. which Is now
visible In tho evening sky. Whom wo
are thinking about worlds 1t is Just ms
woll to think OF Jupiter for that is n
globe worth pondering over. Thirteen
hundred times rs largo as this big
earth OF ours and illuminated by four
obedient moons, Jupiter has uncom-
mon claims to consideration. But 1t is
not SO much the gigantic size OF that
wonderful planet as tho extraordinary
appearances aud occurrences upon its
surface that command particular at
tention ut present.
Mest readers know that when Jupi-
ter is looked at withu telescope cor
tain bands, or belts, aro seen oytend.
ing in parallel lines across It's disk.
We ordinarily SEQ the great planet
thus represented in illustrated books
OF astronomy. 1t is among thoso belts
of Jupiter that the astronomers have
observed some very surprising things.
The most conspicuous bolts lilo on
either side OF the planets equator in
what upon the earth we should call tho
tropical latitudes. Jupitcr's equator,
however, is so slightly inclined from
the plane OF his orbit that his tropical
circles do not extend as far north and
south as the belts lie. Tho first ex-
plan ion 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 II he has
IL powerful telescope und u patient
mind he discovers TINT changes Gf form
aud position occur in tho belts, which
stregthen the probability that thcy
ARE composed of clouds. The various
colors that they show, and in particular
the prevailing red tint which clarac-
terizes the largest belts, may excite
wonder rs to the nature and condition
OF masses OF vapor that could present
such an appearance. but upon tho
whole there seems to be nothing TO
serio isly discredit the idea that the
greater number of these phenomena
really are clouds.
And now we come to tho most sur.
prising facts. 1t is evident that tre-
mcndous current is continually sweep
Ing right around tho hugo globo Of
Jupiter over its equatorial regions.
The cloud belts are all In motion. but
not all with tho same velocity. The
nearer they are 10 the equator the
faster they move. The observations
of Mr.. Stanley williams and others
show that in tho north temperate zone
there is broad light band cncircling
the planet which may possibly be tho
actual surface OF Jupiter's globe. By
comparing the rate OF motion OF cloud
like objects scen In this region with
that OF the adjacent cloud belt IL IL
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 bo little short OF
t,n hours. But the equatorial clouds
20 around In about nine hours and fifty
minutes, while the clouds 30' north
and south of tho equator require five
minutes lcngcr to complete circuit
In other words, the equatorial part OF
tho atmosphere appears TO bs flowing
past the regions on either side OF it ut
the rate of some 2i0 miles an hourl
This, ms NJ Flammarion has remarked.
Is incomparably faster than the most
violent cyclone upon tho earth. And
this gigantic current OF wind. II so
II mly be called. forms perpetual
hurricane. blowing around Jupiter MS
nnrcmittingly as our trade winds. but
with inconceivablc power and energy
Tho result of tho varying vclocities
with which adjacent portions OF the
Jovian atmosphere appear to move
should naturally bc tho formation of
enormous whirling storms, and lorna
does Of Incredible fury.