HONOLULU (May 16) - Astronomers at the University of Hawaii have discovered 11 more moons orbiting Jupiter, bringing the number orbiting the solar system's largest planet to 39.
The discovery by the team led by astronomer David Jewitt and graduate student Scott Sheppard was announced Thursday by the International Astronomical Union. The group, which first identified the moons in December, discovered 11 other moons orbiting Jupiter in January 2001.
``It's pretty exciting to find these,'' Sheppard said. ``When you're actually up there observing, it's very time consuming, very rigorous.''
Astronomers used a telescope atop Mauna Kea and one of the largest digital imaging cameras in the world to find the moons, the astronomers said. The moons are between 1.25 miles and 2.5 miles in diameter, the astronomers said.
``The technology is improving now to the point that the number of moons in the solar system has doubled because of the new technology,'' said Donald Yeomans, senior research scientist at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif. ``It's really quite extraordinary - the number of moons in the solar system has doubled.''
The discovery is also significant because the moons rotate in the opposite rotation of Jupiter, astronomers said. Satellites typically rotate in the same direction as the planet they orbit.
The unusual rotations indicate the moons were formed in another place and captured by Jupiter's orbit, Jewitt said.
``They must have been captured at some very, very early time when things were different,'' he said.
With 39 moons, Jupiter has the most of any planet in the solar system. Its four largest - Io, Europa, Calisto and Ganymede - were discovered by Galileo in 1610.
Sheppard said more moons could also be discovered the next time the planet can be clearly observed from Earth. He said the new moons won't be named for some time because astronomers must observe one full orbit rotation, which takes 600 days.
``We've recently discovered so many new moons we're going to run out of names,'' Sheppard said.
05/16/02 23:27 EDT
Copyright 2002 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. All active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL.
Posted by TSN (Member # 31) on :
Hm... I like the way their wording implies that their research is actually causing new moons that weren't there before to spring into existence...
Posted by First of Two (Member # 16) on :
quote:The moons are between 1.25 miles and 2.5 miles in diameter
That's no moon, it's a space station!
Posted by David Templar (Member # 580) on :
quote:Originally posted by First of Two: That's no moon, it's a space station!
No, they're little chunks of the once mighty planet Kryptonite.
[ May 18, 2002, 15:58: Message edited by: David Templar ]
Posted by UM. (Member # 239) on :
Krypton.
Posted by Dat (Member # 302) on :
quote:Copyright 2002 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. All active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL.
Perhaps I'm being anal, but maybe we should actually follow this and not post the entire article.
Posted by Malnurtured Snay (Member # 411) on :
Speaking of being anal,
quote:Radio Show
Just imagine sitting in traffic on your way to work and hearing this!
(Many Chicago folks DID hear this on the WBAM FM morning show in Chicago.)
The DJs play a game where they award winners great prizes. The game is called "Mate Match". The DJs call someone at work and ask if they are married or seriously involved with someone.If the contestant answers "yes", he or she is then asked 3 random yet highly personal questions.The person is also asked to divulge the name of their partner (with phone number) for verification. If their partner answers those same three questions correctly, they both win the prize.
One particular game, however, several months ago made the City of Big Shoulders drop to its knees with laughter and is possibly the funniest thing I've heard yet. Anyway, here's how it all went down:
DJ: "Hey! This is Edgar on WBAM. Have you ever heard of 'MateMatch'?"
Contestant: (laughing) "Yes, I have."
DJ: "Great! Then you know we're giving away a trip to Orlando, Florida if you win.
What is your name? First only please."
Contestant: "Brian."
DJ: "Brian, are you married or what?"
Brian: "Yes."
DJ: "Yes? Does that mean you're married or you're what?"
Brian: (laughing nervously) "Yes, I am married."
DJ: "Thank you. Now, what is your wife's name? First only please."
Brian: "Sara."
DJ: "Is Sara at work, Brian?"
Brian: "She is gonna kill me."
DJ: "Stay with me here, Brian! Is she at work?"
Brian: (laughing) "Yes, she's at work."
DJ: "Okay, first question - when was the last time you had sex?"
Brian: "She is gonna kill me."
DJ: "Brian! Stay with me here!"
Brian: "About 8 o'clock this morning."
DJ: "Atta boy, Brian."
Brian: (laughing sheepishly) "Well..."
DJ: "Question #2 - How long did it last?"
Brian: "About 10 minutes."
DJ: "Wow! You really want that trip, huh? No one would ever have said that if a trip wasn't at stake."
Brian: "Yeah, that trip sure would be nice."
DJ: "Okay. Final question. Where did you have sex at 8 o'clock this morning?"
Brian: (laughing hard) "I, ummm, I, well..."
DJ: "This sounds good, Brian. Where was it at?"
Brian: "Not that it was all that great, but her mom is staying with us for a couple of weeks..."
DJ: "Uh huh..."
Brian: "...and the Mother-In-Law was in the shower at the time."
DJ: "Atta boy, Brian."
Brian: "On the kitchen table."
DJ: "Not that great?? That is more adventure than the previous hundred times I've done it.
Okay folks, I will put Brian on hold, get this wife's work number and call her up. You listen to this."
3 minutes of commercials follow.
DJ: "Okay audience, let's call Sarah, shall we?"
(touch tones.....ringing....)
Clerk: "Kinkos."
DJ: "Hey, is Sarah around there somewhere?"
Clerk: "This is she."
DJ: "Sarah, this is Edgar with WBAM. We are live on the air right now and I've been talking with Brian for a couple of hours now."
Sarah: (laughing) "A couple of hours?"
DJ: "Well, a while now. He is on the line with us.
Brian knows not to give any answers away or you'll lose.
Sooooooo... do you know the rules of "MateMatch'?"
Sarah: "No."
DJ: "Good!"
Brian: (laughing)
Sarah: (laughing) "Brian, what the hell are you up to?"
Brian (laughing) "Just answer his questions honestly, okay?
Be completely honest."
DJ: "Yeah yeah yeah. Sure. Now, I will ask you 3 questions, Sarah.
If your answers match Brian's answers, then the both of you will be off to Orlando, Florida for 5 days on us.
Disney World, Sea World, Tickets to the Magic's game, The whole deal. Get it Sarah?"
Sarah: (laughing) "Yes."
DJ: "Alright. When did you last have sex, Sarah?"
Sarah: "Oh God, Brian....uh, this morning before Brian went to work."
DJ: "What time?"
Sarah: "Around 8 this morning."
DJ: "Very good. Next question. How long did it last?"
Sarah: "12, 15 minutes maybe."
DJ: "Hmmmm. That's close enough. I am sure she is trying to protect his manhood.
We've got one last question, Sarah.
You are one question away from a trip to Florida. Are you ready?"
Sarah: (laughing) "Yes."
DJ: "Where did you have it?"
Sarah: "OH MY GOD, BRIAN!! You didn't tell them that, did you?"
Brian: "Just tell him, honey."
DJ: "What is bothering you so much, Sarah?"
Sarah: "Well, it's just that my mom is vacationing with us and..."
DJ: Come on Sarah.....where did you have it?
Sarah: "In the ass....."
After a long pause, the DJ said, "Folks, we need to take a station break"
Posted by The359 (Member # 37) on :
I guess I should have listened to WBAM more when I lived in Indiana...
Posted by Sol System (Member # 30) on :