THE PLANET JUPITER.

Grey River Argus, 17 July 1922, Page 2

THE PLANET JUPITER.

MOVEMENTS, A MYSTERY. Tn a statement to the Royal Astronomical Society, London, Mr Frank Sargent, of the Durham University Observatory, records a curious phenomenon on rhe surface of Jupiter, which is 1000 times the size of the earth. The surface of the planet, according to astronomers, is covered with dense masses of vapour, which owing to Jupiter’s rapid spin (under 10 houis instead of 24 as in the case of the earth) are drawn out into long belts parallel to its equator. During May, 1921, Mr I Sargent discovered that a large area oi the planet’s surface had become greatly ; disturbed and was moving 70 miles an hour slower than the rest. The area affected was almost equal in size to the 'continent of Europe. | Imagine Ireland suddenly breaking ■from her moorings and drifting across | the Atlantic, and one has some idea : of what has happened on Jupiter. 1 It was interesting to find this great ..disturbance repeating itself within .twelve months. This year’s disturb-

ance was first detected on March 31st, since when the area has been kept un dor close scrutiny. The slipping area is not quite so large as last year, and the movement is somewhat slower. During the time the feature has been under ; observation it. has drifted about 50,000 miles, or equal to about twice round the earth. What these movements mean is at present a mystery.