The Mysteries of Jupiter's Great Red Spot

For over 350 years, a colossal storm has been raging on Jupiter—a tempest so massive that Earth could fit inside it twice over. This is the Great Red Spot, one of the most iconic features in our solar system.

A Storm Unlike Any Other

The Great Red Spot is an anticyclonic storm, meaning it rotates counter-clockwise in Jupiter's southern hemisphere. Wind speeds at its edges reach up to 400 miles per hour, creating a vortex of unimaginable power.

The Mystery of Its Color

Scientists believe the distinctive red color comes from complex organic molecules, possibly created when ultraviolet light from the Sun interacts with ammonia and acetylene in Jupiter's upper atmosphere. However, the exact chemistry remains one of planetary science's enduring puzzles.

A Shrinking Giant

Recent observations show the Great Red Spot is shrinking. In the late 1800s, it measured about 25,000 miles across. Today, it's less than 10,000 miles wide. Will this ancient storm eventually disappear? Only time—and continued observation—will tell.