Great Red Spot

Close up view of the Great Red Spot by Juno

The Great Red Spot is a persistent high-pressure region in the atmosphere of Jupiter, producing an anticyclonic storm that is the largest in the Solar System. It is the most recognizable feature on Jupiter, owing to its red-orange color whose origin is still unknown. Located 22 degrees south of Jupiter's equator, it produces wind-speeds up to 432 km/h (268 mph). It was first observed in September 1831, with 60 recorded observations between then and 1878, when continuous observations began.[1][2] A similar spot was observed from 1665 to 1713; if this is the same storm, it has existed for at least 359 years,[3] but a study from 2024 suggests this is not the case.[4]

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference Denning was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ *Chang, Kenneth (2017-12-13). "The Great Red Spot Descends Deep Into Jupiter". The New York Times. Retrieved 2017-12-15.
  3. ^ *Staff (2007). "Jupiter Data Sheet – SPACE.com". Imaginova. Retrieved 2008-06-03.
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference Sánchez-Lavega2024 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).