Extraterrestrial Superstorms

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The One-Electron Universe

The great vortices of the Jovian planets are true storms, analogous in many ways to Earth’s hurricanes. There are, of course, some differences. For example, these storms are as big as entire planets. The largest and oldest storm in the solar system is Jupiter’s Great Red Spot, stretching an incredible two to three times the diameter of the planet Earth. Meanwhile the fastest winds ever measured, clocking fifteen hundred miles per hour, once raged in Neptune’s Great Dark Spot. Saturn’s Polar Vortex is a 20,000-mile-wide monster shaped like a hexagon. Even plain-looking Uranus hides USA-sized hurricanes below its methane haze. There are many unsolved mysteries surrounding these epic storms. We may be close to finding some answers, following the Juno spacecraft’s recent flyby of Jupiter’s Great Red Spot.

Written by Alexandra Yep and Matt O’Dowd
Hosted by Matt O' Dowd
Produced by Rusty Ward
Graphics by Kurt Ross
Assistant Editing and Sound Design by Mike Petrow

Comments answer by Matt:

Andres64

Keith Gaughan

Vacuum Diagrams

youteub akount

Don Solaris

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[scrtpassword]

Jupiter's moon are named after his affairs. Juno is Jupiter's wife. NASA sent Juno to check on Jupiter. Very clever.

[fredvand.]

Wow, this episode sounds downright local compared to some of the previous ones.

Given how absurdly huge even our own planet is, I can't believe I just said that.

[FlyingJetpack]

I want a museum that just display space pictures like works of art. Like, seriously, if you were to tell me the pictures in 8:57 were drawn, I wouldn't have doubted you.
Nature never fails to look amazing up close.

[RasperHelpdesk]

I've spent the last few weeks watching all of the Space Time videos starting at the very first, and I'm *finally* all caught up! Some of the most intellectually stimulating content on YouTube.

[WestOfEarth]

Nice to have a break from the more complicated physics. Thanks!

[najib]

I feel like I'm skipping class if I miss a video.

[SatyaVenugopal]

"My barber just shaves half-integer spin off the sides..."

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA... nearly fell off my chair!

[UltraTM]

I love that you are adding things like the very last question :D

[RADlX]

"... by the collapse of the planet itself" i do not know how you can drop such a mindbomb with a straight face.

[andrewbosak]

Those Juno images of Jupiter are some of the most amazing pictures ever

[legendaryoutcast]

This host makes me laugh at least once per video.
Thanks for the lessons man!

[frankyhoonofficial]

These days, I find refuge in Space Time more than ever. Science and Physics have no politics, no agenda, just plain existence. I love it.

[richardanderson]

PBS is knocking it out of the park, keep these great videos coming please! I am using your presentations to encourage my teenage daughter in her science studies. :) Cheers!

[MaiagattaNeko]

Finally something I could actually understand without pretending again :D

[phatpat]

As an American, you don't need to use imperial units for my benefit. I can think in kilometers just fine thanks.

[tyster]

Anyone get the Mr. Beams ad??? Genuinely the best advertisement on YouTube right now

[Mnemo]

I'm just saying, but "Extraterrestrial Superstorms" is the most badass name anything could ever have.

[missingnoo]

8:58 Are these really photos? They look like they belong on the wall of an art gallery. ö, ö

My favorite is the one at 9:03 - I would put that on a wall in my livingroom anytime. :D

[gtb]

BTW thanks for the glasses, they're awesome and a nice gift to the patreons.

[chadwicktthompson]

Despite being anticyclonic as viewed from the top of their atmosphere, it's a mistake to assume that this equates to a "high pressure" storm. In fact Earth hurricanes also exhibit anticyclonic circulation in the upper troposphere.