What is the Great Red Spot on Venus?
Great Red Spot, a long-lived enormous storm system on the planet Jupiter and the most conspicuous feature of its visible cloud surface. It is generally reddish in colour, slightly oval in shape, and approximately 16,350 km (10,159 miles) wide—large enough to engulf Earth.
How long will Jupiter’s Red Spot last?
Changing Face. One of the solar system’s most iconic landmarks is about to vanish. Jupiter’s Great Red Spot, a gigantic storm more than twice the size of the Earth, has persisted for centuries. But now scientists predict it could disappear forever in as little as 20 years.
What is special about Jupiter’s Great Red Spot?
At 10,000 miles across, the Great Red Spot is the largest storm in our solar system and has been continually observed for around 200 years, but it’s been around for much longer. (Compare that with big storms on Earth, which generally last a few days or weeks at most.)
How old is the red spot?
This is Jupiter’s Great Red Spot and it has captivated humans for generations. Jupiter’s Great Red Spot was first observed in 1831 by amateur astronomer Samuel Heinrich Schwabe, so we know the storm has existed for at least 150 years. But it could be even older than that.
Does Jupiter’s Red Spot move?
Jupiter’s Great Red Spot rotates counterclockwise, with a period of about six Earth days or fourteen Jovian days. Measuring 16,350 km (10,160 mi) in width as of 3 April 2017, Jupiter’s Great Red Spot is 1.3 times the diameter of Earth.
Is the red spot disappearing?
In 2019, the Great Red Spot began “flaking” at its edge, with fragments of the storm breaking off and dissipating. The shrinking and “flaking” fueled concern from some astronomers that the Great Red Spot could dissipate within 20 years.
How old is Jupiter’s Red Spot?
340 years
The Great Red Spot is a persistent anticyclonic storm on the planet Jupiter, 22 degrees south of the equator, which has lasted at least 340 years.
Why is Venus the brightest planet?
Venus’ dense cloud cover has benefits for us Earthlings. It reflects the sun’s rays, making the planet the brightest in the night sky.
What was the last planet to be discovered?
Pluto
Pluto was the last planet discovered, although that distinction returned to Neptune when Pluto was reclassified as a dwarf planet. Pluto was discovered in 1930 by the astronomer Clyde Tombaugh. Many people had been searching for a ninth planet – the elusive planet X – for quite a while.
Is the Great Red Spot bigger than Earth?
Known as the Great Red Spot, this swirling high-pressure region is clearly visible from space, spanning a region in Jupiter’s atmosphere more than 10,000 miles (16,000 kilometers) wide — about one and a quarter times the diameter of Earth.
What is Jupiter’s Great Red Spot made of?
NASA’s Juno spacecraft shows Jupiter’s Great Red Spot is 350 to 500 kilometres deep. The planet, known as a gas giant, is composed mainly of hydrogen and helium. The storm has changed shape and could be shrinking in size.