The Wildest Weather in the Galaxy
By Jeanna Bryner
For decades, astronomers have been using telescopes to decipher
atmospheric conditions on distant worlds. From 1,500-mph winds on
Neptune to scorching heat waves on Venus and even worse weather on
huge worlds beyond our solar system, you'll be glad you live on Earth.
Number 10: Serious Lightning
the continental United States on Saturn, with lightning bolts that are
1,000 times stronger than those on Earth. They detected the charged
The storm stretches 2,175 miles (3,500 kilometers) from north to
south, and emits radio noise similar to that produced by thunderstorms
on Earth.
Number 9: Hot Crush
Named after the goddess of love and beauty, Venus has a steamy
demeanor. Boasting lead-melting temperatures of 890 degrees Fahrenheit
(750 degrees Kelvin), Venus is considered the hottest planet in the
solar system. Scientists attribute the high heat index to an extreme
greenhouse effect. The atmosphere is composed of mainly carbon dioxide
no place for love. And with pressures that are 90 times that on Earth,
any visitors would surely be crushed.
Number 8: Methane Moon
found evidence of intense rain showers comprised of liquid methane.
The spacecraft spotted channels in the moon that were most likely
Number 7: Scarlet Rain
In the summer of 2001, at least 50 tons of red particles fell over
Kerala, India, continuing as scattered rain for nearly two months.
Theories as to the source of the scarlet showers include rusty
particles from a dust storm and biological cells of an
extraterrestrial origin. In the April issue of the journal
Astrophysics and Space Science, scientists from Mahatma Gandhi
University reported that the particles have the appearance of
biological cells, can reproduce at sizzling temperatures, and have no
similarity to dust particles.
Number 6: Planet Popsicle
The ninth planet from the Sun (at least by some definitions), Pluto
receives a mere 1/1000th the amount of sunlight as Earth receives.
Even though its elongated orbit swings the planet closer to the Sun
than Neptune at times, this ball of frozen nitrogen, methane, and
carbon dioxide remains in a deep freeze. Temperatures range from minus
387 to minus 369 Fahrenheit (40 to 50 degrees Kelvin). At its farthest
distance from the Sun, 4.5 billion miles (7.2 billion kilometers), the
the surface.
Number 5: Windy World
than any on Earth, reaching 1,500 mph (2,414 kph). Scientists think
(roughly 16 hours), this spreading of heat could spawn the
record-breaking winds and giant storms on the blue planet.
Number 4: Freeze Frame
Temperatures on Uranus can dip below minus 300 degrees Fahrenheit (89
side, leading to 20-year-long seasons of extreme weather. At times, it
can be so frigid that methane gas in the atmosphere condenses into
crystal-methane clouds.
Number 3: Close Encounter
On July 4, 2006 astronomers expect the two biggest storms in the solar
system to pass uncomfortably close to one another. The Great Red Spot,
called Red Jr. The close call could cause Red Jr. to lose its color,
says Glenn Orton, an astronomer at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory
who studies storms on Jupiter and other giant planets. Although not
fully understood, scientists think the red color correlates with the
ultraviolet rays generate the brick hue.
Number 2: Dust Buster
Mars has been known to kick up dust storms that engulf entire
hemispheres and circle the globe. The rust-colored dust can blow at a
face-tingling 60 to 100 mph (97 to 161 kilometers) per hour, lasting
for weeks to months. Once started, the impenetrable haze can blanket
more than half the planet, raising the temperatures by 30 degrees
Celsius.
Number 1: Iron Rain
Called "failed stars," brown dwarfs lack the mass needed to ignite
into a star, yet are much heftier than our biggest planet Jupiter.
Astronomers are finding colossal, planet-like storms on these oddball
orbs that rival Jupiter's Great Red Spot. As brown dwarfs cool over
time, molecules of gaseous iron condense into liquid-iron clouds and
rain. With further cooling, huge storms whisk away the clouds, letting
bright infrared light escape into space.
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