Air Circulations on Jupiter

Air circulations on earth transfer energy from lower latitude to higher latitude, so energy distribution becomes more uniform on each region. However, this mechanism also works on other planets such as Jupiter.

On Jupiter, the main composition of atmosphere is H2 and He. On the other hand, CH4 , H2O, NH3, and H2S only take up little fractions. The atmosphere can also be divided into a few layers by how temperature differs in terms of height , similar to earth.

There is a famous theory called the three-circulation on earth. Similarly, there are several circulations on Jupiter. Since Jupiter is much bigger, there are more circulations. On Jupiter, we can categorize the surface into two types, zones and belts, by atmospheric movements. Zone looks brighter and air descends there, so the top of Troposphere(對流層) is lower and therefore it is warmer. Belt is the opposite. Between belts and zones are jet streams which means a fast airflow. Just like there is strong west wind jet stream on earth.

The red spot is actually an anticyclone (反氣旋) twice of the earth size. Unlike a cyclone on earth only last for few days, the red spot on Jupiter has already existed for 300 years . What makes it last for so long? Scientists thought that it receives energy from the jet streams around.

Doesn't it sounds amazing? What we are all familiar on earth (air circulation, jet stream, cyclone...) also happens on other planets in different appearances!

Find the Touch from Sky

    I had a lecture from professor Wei-Hsin Sun (孫維新 ) this Tuesday, so I am going to share my reflections with you.

    "Does anyone look up the sky and see a crescent moon on the way to this classroom?" Only one-tenth students raised their hands. "Do you know what is remarkable today in astronomy?" "It is actually the best day to watch meteor showers in Leo(獅子座)." However, less than ten students noticed this information. At that time, I found that how unaware we are toward the nature. Urban children are seldom stunned by a starry night. When I first saw the sky covered with stars in Taidong, it was just magnificent. Stars seemed so bright and huge. I stared at the sky without a word. How long haven't you looked up the sky? Slow down sometimes, you will find amazing scenery. 

     "Gaining and sharing knowledge are the happiest things in the world." You never know that why there is Fibonacci number hidden in the sunflower and pineapple. Nature is mysterious, it always arranges itself in the most beneficial way. Science is everywhere. Can you imagine how fried bread sticks are made contains complex chemical reactions? Every day you open your eyes in the morning, you are so excited because there is so much to learn.

    Every time I heard a lecture from the professor, I rediscovered my aspiration in nature and science. Always remember that "Somewhere, something incredible is waiting to be known." and never forget to appreciate the amazing sky. Here is the video of Leonid shower this week.

Simple "Rocket Science"

Want a Personal Satellite? CubeSat is a Good Choice !

    

    Do you want a satellite of your own? Are you eager to point at a glowing ball in the sky and shout " That is my satellite!" ? Today, it is possible to fulfill your dream because of "CubeSat". So, what is a CubeSat?  CubeSat is a mini cube-shaped satellite, size 10*10*10 cm^3, and weight 1-2kg. CubeSat originated from Stanford. At that time, the teacher wanted students to practice problem-solving skills by doing a complete engineering project---to imitate the first satellite "Sputnick" . Since then, CubeSat has prospered .

   What can a CubeSat do? Its functions vary from photographing, observations , scientific measurements to communicating. Because CubeSat is in Low Earth Orbit, it is easy to capture the most beautiful scene of Earth. For example, the aurora (極光) . If you are a lover of astronomy, you can also choose your target and observe it every day. If you are interested in business, you can monitor some human activities by collecting big data and then make a better decision based on your data. If you are fond of atmospheric science, by placing certain sensors on the satellite, you can measure the temperature and density of some particles in Ionosphere(電離層) . Besides amateur use , it will also appear in a NASA's project on Mars in 2016.

    CubeSat is actually a trend , meaning the populace get involved in space. The universe is not scientists and astronomers' exclusive world anymore, it is a great treasure that everyone shares!

    This is someone's handmade CubeSat.

  Here is a video from Discovery News.