Day 261/365: Slowly rotating Jupiter makes everything better.

[nanila]

Today was much better than yesterday. Keiki pooped in the toilet! Hooray! But that is not the only reason it was better, for today, the first birthday card arrived for me, from my aunt-out-law in the USA, and also a Mystery Amazon Package, which turned out to contain this:


[Still life of Slowly Rotating solar-powered Jupiter sitting on its stand.]

If you would like to see Slowly Rotating Jupiter rotating, click below.

"" (Watch on YouTube)

[YouTube video, 45 sec, of Slowly Rotating Jupiter rotating.]

It has been gifted to me by My Mate Josh, who is an awesome and faithful friend and has been for over twenty years. He also reads this journal. Thank you, Josh! <3

Comments

[askygoneonfire]

*points* *shouts* WITCHCRAFT


HOOOOWW

[nanila]

Solar power and the Earth's magnetic field, allegedly. Which, since it's all invisible, does pretty much appear to be witchcraft. :D

[ironed_orchid]

WOW!

[ljravengirl]

my so-called ''guiding planet'' ;]
but it's def the prettiest planet with the coolest moons

[nanila]

I must register a small protest against this judgment in support of Saturn (hexagonal polar storm!!), Enceladus (geysers!) and Titan (liquid methane lakes!). :D

[quoththeravyn]

That's lovely. Just this evening I was drooling over the selection of planet-and-other-body globes in the back of Sky and Telescope. Perhaps after I move [*]

[*] One cool feature the retirement center has is the "grocery shelf" outside one's door in the hallway. People decorate them with all manner of little stuff. I could imagine a planet of the week rotation.

[nanila]

Ooh, "Planet of the Week" is a fantastic idea. I would suggest adding in the moons but then I looked up how much one of these costs and went: O.O

[ironed_orchid]

I love it so much.

[nanila]

Me too!

[rmc28]

Eeeeeee. One of my colleagues has a slowly-rotating Earth on his desk but Jupiter is way cooler.

[nanila]

There are quite a number of them available. They even make Titan!

[pbristow]

I'd send it back if I were you... It's got a nasty red blotch on one side! =;o]

[nanila]

I have always found it frightening that that "nasty red blotch" is larger than the Earth. O.O

[pbristow]

...And with seemingly more stable weather! [BOGGLES AT WHAT THE SKY IS UP TO THIS MORNING.]

[cmcmck]

That is beyond gorgeous!

[nanila]

Yes. Also, I'm finding it very soothing.

[worlds_of_smoke]

So pretty!!!

[nanila]

Every time I go downstairs to make a cup of tea, I have a few minutes to gaze at it. So soothing.

[tree_and_leaf]

Gosh, that's beautiful.

[nanila]

It is a lovely object. Now I have to work out a permanent spot for it!

[silveradept]

That's quite lovely.

Also, hooray for Keiki.

[nanila]

It is. I'm very happy to have it.

Keiki did well again today. Fingers crossed that was just a brief blip...

[silveradept]

Good. It may have been a blip - sometimes, they tell me, things that have previously been learned get unlearned temporarily if new things that require concentration and regulation get learned. Which is no fun when good bathroom habits are what gets forgotten, but it will hopefully have been temporary.

[redsixwing]

That is very pretty and soothing to watch.

I've played an amusing and unsuccessful game of "spot the power source" through several loops of that video.

[nanila]

The northern polar region loses detail at somewhat lower latitudes than I would have expected, given the quality of available image mapping. I suspect the solar cell might be stashed away under there.

[redsixwing]

Hm! That would make sense. Initially I thought it might be in the bottom, but then determined that the darker spot on the southern polar region appears to be a reflection of the base and its shadow. XD

Is it as transparent as it looks? The lighter coloration of the northern pole might help sunlight collection, too.

[nanila]

There's a transparent sphere enclosing the printed sphere and a thin clear liquid layer in which the transparent sphere is suspended.

[redsixwing]

Fascinating!

Thanks for answering questions about your new toy miniature decorative planet.

[davidgillon]

That is a classy present!

[nanila]

Yes. Also, not something I would ever have thought to buy for myself!

Buy Jove!

[hairyears]

That is a working definition of the perfect present: something you like, but would not think to buy yourself.