Great Red Spot facts for kids
The Great Red Spot is a huge, long-lasting storm on the planet Jupiter. Imagine a hurricane, but much, much bigger! This amazing storm is so enormous that two or three Earths could easily fit inside it. It has been swirling for at least 340 years, possibly even longer.
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What is the Great Red Spot?
The Great Red Spot is like a giant, permanent hurricane. It's an anticyclone, which means it's a high-pressure storm where winds spin around a central point. On Earth, hurricanes usually last for days or weeks. But on Jupiter, this storm has been going on for centuries!
How Big Is It?
This storm is truly massive. Its size changes a bit over time, but it's usually about 16,350 kilometers (10,159 miles) wide. To give you an idea, that's wide enough to fit two or three planets the size of Earth side by side! It's the largest known storm in our entire solar system.
How Long Has It Been There?
Scientists believe the Great Red Spot has been active for at least 340 years. It was first clearly seen by astronomers in 1831, but some records suggest it might have been observed as early as 1665. This makes it one of the longest-lasting weather features ever observed.
What Makes It Red?
The exact reason for the Great Red Spot's reddish-orange color is still a bit of a mystery. Scientists think it might be caused by chemicals in Jupiter's atmosphere. These chemicals, like phosphorus or sulfur, could be brought up from deeper layers of the atmosphere by the storm's powerful winds. When they react with sunlight, they might create the famous red color.
How Do We Study It?
Spacecraft like Voyager 1, Voyager 2, and more recently, the Juno spacecraft, have flown past Jupiter and studied the Great Red Spot. They send back amazing pictures and data. Juno, for example, has flown directly over the storm, giving us close-up views and helping scientists understand its structure and how deep it goes into Jupiter's atmosphere. These missions help us learn more about this incredible natural wonder.
Images for kids
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The Great Red Spot as seen by the Juno spacecraft via JunoCam, in April 2018
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Time-lapse sequence from the approach of Voyager 1 to Jupiter, showing the motion of atmospheric bands, and circulation of the Great Red Spot. NASA image.
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Closeup of the Great Red Spot taken from about 8,000 km (5,000 mi) above it (July 11, 2017)
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Approximate size comparison of Earth and the Great Red Spot.
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Color animation of Jupiter's cloud motion and circulation of the Great Red Spot.
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Winds in Jupiter's Great Red Spot
See also
In Spanish: Gran Mancha Roja para niños
