Comments on: Io and Europa, on the way out http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/04/02/io-and-europa-on-the-way-out/ I am an astronomer, writer, and skeptic. I likes reality the way it is, and I aims to keep it that way. My real name is Phil Plait, and I run the Bad Astronomy blog. Sun, 05 Jul 2009 22:09:55 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.1 By: Bougainville http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/04/02/io-and-europa-on-the-way-out/#comment-33907 Bougainville Wed, 04 Apr 2007 18:45:31 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/04/02/io-and-europa-on-the-way-out/#comment-33907 I thought at first this was an April fool; it seemed too cool to be true. I thought at first this was an April fool; it seemed too cool to be true.

]]> By: SF Reader http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/04/02/io-and-europa-on-the-way-out/#comment-33906 SF Reader Wed, 04 Apr 2007 17:31:34 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/04/02/io-and-europa-on-the-way-out/#comment-33906 I wonder if we would have twigged to elliptical orbits, solar system geometry, and gravitation in general sooner if we had had multiple moons with visible disks, so that we would see them in various phases at the same time. Io and Europa are in identical phase only because of the angle of view in this photo; from Jupiter (or an inner orbit) their phases would've been very different. I wonder if we would have twigged to elliptical orbits, solar system geometry, and gravitation in general sooner if we had had multiple moons with visible disks, so that we would see them in various phases at the same time.

Io and Europa are in identical phase only because of the angle of view in this photo; from Jupiter (or an inner orbit) their phases would’ve been very different.

]]> By: John23 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/04/02/io-and-europa-on-the-way-out/#comment-33905 John23 Wed, 04 Apr 2007 13:38:56 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/04/02/io-and-europa-on-the-way-out/#comment-33905 Cassini takes shots like this around Saturn all the time. Cassini takes shots like this around Saturn all the time.

]]> By: Irishman http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/04/02/io-and-europa-on-the-way-out/#comment-33904 Irishman Tue, 03 Apr 2007 17:59:59 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/04/02/io-and-europa-on-the-way-out/#comment-33904 Matt Johns, they are false color, but not dramatically so (such as three shades of IR). Your eyes would see something similar, a little more contrast between the two, and the night side looking a little less green. Matt Johns, they are false color, but not dramatically so (such as three shades of IR). Your eyes would see something similar, a little more contrast between the two, and the night side looking a little less green.

]]> By: Donnie B. http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/04/02/io-and-europa-on-the-way-out/#comment-33902 Donnie B. Tue, 03 Apr 2007 16:22:07 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/04/02/io-and-europa-on-the-way-out/#comment-33902 I was glad Emily included a description of the "Jupitershine" illuminating Io but not Europa. I'd noticed that and guessed the explanation, so it was neat to learn I'd figured it right. I saw the Tvashtar plume, of course, but the other two were pretty subtle and I wouldn't have noticed them without the descriptions. Very awesome image! And, by the way, Doug... LOL! I was glad Emily included a description of the “Jupitershine” illuminating Io but not Europa. I’d noticed that and guessed the explanation, so it was neat to learn I’d figured it right.

I saw the Tvashtar plume, of course, but the other two were pretty subtle and I wouldn’t have noticed them without the descriptions.

Very awesome image! And, by the way, Doug… LOL!

]]> By: Tom http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/04/02/io-and-europa-on-the-way-out/#comment-33903 Tom Tue, 03 Apr 2007 16:21:00 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/04/02/io-and-europa-on-the-way-out/#comment-33903 Nice. I need to bookmark Emily's blog and visit that more often. There seems to be a lot of stuff on there that isn't easily found on the "Official" NASA sites. Seems that the MER team isn't doing much with the rover site other than a few updates now and then, and the usual raw photos. Sure, I'm not complaining, but keep it more interesting! The general public thinks the rovers have returned to Earth by now. (yes, someone DID ask me "when are they coming back") I'm not smiling I'm wincing. *ugh* Tom Nice. I need to bookmark Emily’s blog and visit that more often. There seems to be a lot of stuff on there that isn’t easily found on the “Official” NASA sites. Seems that the MER team isn’t doing much with the rover site other than a few updates now and then, and the usual raw photos. Sure, I’m not complaining, but keep it more interesting! The general public thinks the rovers have returned to Earth by now.
(yes, someone DID ask me “when are they coming back”) I’m not smiling I’m wincing. *ugh*

Tom

]]> By: Melusine http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/04/02/io-and-europa-on-the-way-out/#comment-33900 Melusine Tue, 03 Apr 2007 13:14:55 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/04/02/io-and-europa-on-the-way-out/#comment-33900 Excellent explanation of the photo by Emily. And yeah, this was interesting: <blockquote>This particular Kodak moment was suggested by space enthusiast Richard Hendricks. These kinds of pictures are of the greatest benefit to the public -- it seems fitting that it's a member of the public who did the work to find out and suggest to the New Horizons team when to take them. </blockquote> She mentioned him in a previous blog entry, too, regarding Saturn's hexagonal pattern. He's from Austin apparently. I found <a href="http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/newhorizons/news/jupiter_images.html" rel="nofollow">this photo of the Tvashtar's Plume</a> back in early March to be very cool; this latest photo is another great shot. Excellent explanation of the photo by Emily. And yeah, this was interesting:

This particular Kodak moment was suggested by space enthusiast Richard Hendricks. These kinds of pictures are of the greatest benefit to the public — it seems fitting that it’s a member of the public who did the work to find out and suggest to the New Horizons team when to take them.

She mentioned him in a previous blog entry, too, regarding Saturn’s hexagonal pattern. He’s from Austin apparently.

I found this photo of the Tvashtar’s Plume back in early March to be very cool; this latest photo is another great shot.

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