The Great Red Spot

jupiter · storms · space

A Colossal Storm. The Great Red Spot is a massive high-pressure storm on Jupiter that's so enormous it's the largest anticyclonic storm in the whole solar system. Wind speeds inside the storm can reach up to 496 kilometers per hour, which is faster than the strongest hurricanes on Earth.

Its Mysterious Color. The Great Red Spot looks like a giant reddish-orange oval swirling in Jupiter's atmosphere, but scientists still don't know exactly what gives it that distinctive red color. This mystery has puzzled astronomers for centuries.

Located Far South. The Great Red Spot floats 22 degrees south of Jupiter's equator, which means it sits in the southern hemisphere of the giant planet. It stays in roughly the same location as it drifts around the planet.

Observed for Centuries. People first recorded seeing the Great Red Spot in September 1831, and scientists have been watching it continuously since 1878. Some astronomers think a similar storm spotted between 1665 and 1713 might have been the same storm, which would mean it's been around for at least 361 years, though newer research suggests these might be two different storms.