Christmas Sky Show -- presented by Science@NASA

聖誕天空秀 -- -- 由Science@NASA主辦

Just when you thought Christmas was over....

就在你以為聖誕節已經結束的時候......。

At the end of the day on Dec. 25th,

在12月25日的一天結束時。

a pair of holiday lights will pop out of the deepening twilight.

越來越深的暮色中會蹦出一對節日的燈。

Jupiter and the Moon are having a Christmas conjunction.

木星和月球正在進行聖誕聯歡。

It's a global apparition,

這是一個全球性的幽靈。

visible from all time zones and both sides of the equator.

在所有時區和赤道兩側都能看到。

Everyone can see the show,

每個人都可以看到這個節目。

even city dwellers who often miss astronomical events

漏網之魚

because of light pollution.

因為光汙染。

Separated by less than 2 degrees,

相隔不到2度。

the bright pair will beam right through city lights.

這對明亮的光束將直接穿過城市燈光。

For anyone who gets a telescope for Christmas,

對於任何一個聖誕節得到望遠鏡的人來說。

the timing is perfect.

天時地利人和。

Jupiter and the Moon

木星與月球

are among the most satisfying targets for backyard optics.

是後院光學最滿意的目標之一。

A quick sweep of the telescope from Jupiter to the Moon and back again

從木星到月球，再從月球到木星，用望遠鏡快速掃視。

will reveal Jupiter's storms and cloud belts,

將揭示木星'的風暴和雲帶。

the Moon's mountains and impact craters,

月球的山脈和撞擊坑。

and of course the four Galilean satellites

當然還有四顆伽利略衛星

circling the giant planet like a miniature solar system.

像一個微型太陽系一樣環繞著這顆巨大的行星。

Jupiter's trademark Great Red Spot

木星大紅斑

will also be on display--

也將在展會上展示 --

and it is worth a look.

並且值得一看。

Astronomers recently announced that the enormous swirling storm,

天文學家近日宣佈，巨大的漩渦風暴。

twice as wide as the planet Earth,

是地球寬度的兩倍。

is 'spinning up.'

是'旋轉起來.&#39。

Actually, explains planetary scientist Glenn Orton

其實，行星科學家格倫-奧頓解釋說：

of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory,

的NASA'噴氣推進實驗室。

'the Red Spot is shrinking.'

'紅斑正在縮小.&#39。

He likens it to 'the iconic picture of a figure skater

他把它比作'花樣滑冰運動員的標誌性照片。

pulling her arms in to spin faster.

拉著她的手臂轉得更快。

As the size contracts, the spin rate increases.'

隨著尺寸的收縮，自旋率增加.&#39。

John Rogers, head of the British Astronomical Association's Jupiter Section,

英國天文學協會'木星分會負責人約翰-羅傑斯。

noticed the phenomenon in recent pictures of Jupiter

在最近的木星照片中注意到這一現象。

snapped by amateur astronomers.

被業餘天文學家拍下。

He was able to track a black cloud

他能追蹤到一片黑雲

as it swirled three times around the Red Spot's central vortex.

因為它圍繞著紅斑'的中心漩渦旋轉了三次。

The circulating streak completed the circuit in only 4.0 days,

流傳的連環畫只用了4.0天就完成了巡迴演出。

shorter than the 4.5 days Rogers measured in 2006

比羅傑斯2006年測得的4.5天還短。

using the same method.

用同樣的方法。

Looking back in time,

回望過去的時光。

'the trend of decreasing rotation period has been consistent

'輪換週期遞減的趨勢是一致的。

at least since Voyager visited Jupiter in 1979,' says Rogers.

至少自1979年旅行者號訪問木星以來，&#39；羅傑斯說。

As the spot shrinks,

隨著現貨的縮小。

it also changes shape.

它也會改變形狀。

Decades ago the Red Spot looked like a sausage -

幾十年前的紅斑看起來就像一根香腸------。

now it's more circular.

現在更是循環往復。

What happens next is hard to say.

接下來會發生什麼就很難說了。

'Perhaps the Red Spot will continue to shrink and eventually disappear,'

'也許紅斑會繼續縮小，最終消失，&#39。

speculates Rogers.

猜測羅傑斯。

'Or perhaps it will be rejuvenated if some new storm arises to reinforce it.'

'或者說，如果出現一些新的風暴來加強它，也許它會重新煥發活力.&#39。

One thing is certain,

有一件事是肯定的。

Christmas night is a good time to look.

聖誕夜是個看的好時機。

The Red Spot will be transiting Jupiter's middle for observers across North America

紅斑將穿越木星中部，為北美各地的觀測者提供服務。

and will be perfectly positioned for telescopic observations.

並將完美地定位在望遠鏡觀測上。

But you don't need a telescope to enjoy the show.

但你不需要望遠鏡就能欣賞到這場表演。

Step outside at sunset on Dec. 25th and look east.

12月25日日落時分，走出家門，向東望去。

After all, Christmas isn't really over until you've seen the holiday lights.

畢竟，聖誕節並沒有真正結束，直到你'看過節日的燈光。

For more news about bright lights in the night sky,

更多關於夜空中亮光的新聞。

visit science.nasa.gov

訪問science.nasa.gov