The source of the red coloration
is unknown
; suggestions range from compounds of sulfur and phosphorus to organic material, any of which could be produced by lightning discharges or by high-altitude photochemical reactions. The Great Red Spot extends well above Jupiter’s main cloud layers.
What causes Jupiter’s Red Spot?
Jupiter’s atmosphere is made up of hot gases that are constantly moving. … When the swirling gases merge into one another, they
create giant circling storms
. Astronomers believe that several giant storms came together and formed the Giant Red Spot.
Did Jupiter lose its red spot?
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
.
Why has Jupiter’s Red Spot lasted so long?
The Great Red Spot has also lasted much longer than other storms on Jupiter
because it’s located between two powerful jet streams that move in opposite directions
. Scientists claim the storm is like a spinning wheel caught between conveyor belts moving in opposite directions.
Which is the only planet that can sustain life?
Understanding planetary habitability is partly an extrapolation of the conditions on
Earth
, as this is the only planet known to support life.
What is the orange spot on Jupiter?
Jupiter’s Great Red Spot is a
gigantic storm
that’s about twice as wide as Earth, circling the planet in its southern hemisphere. At the storm’s center, winds are relatively calm, but on its edges, wind speeds reach 270-425 mph (430-680 km/h).
Is the Great Red Spot dying?
Jupiter’s giant storm, the Great Red Spot,
may not be dying any time soon
. Although we know the iconic storm has been shrinking since 1878, the pace of this seems to have picked up since 2012, leading to reports that it could be nearing its demise. …
Can you stand on Jupiter?
There is no firm surface on Jupiter
, so if you tried to stand on the planet, you sink down and be crushed by the intense pressure inside the planet. … If you could stand on the surface of Jupiter, you would experience intense gravity. The gravity at Jupiter’s surface is 2.5 times the gravity on Earth.
What is the hottest planet?
Planetary surface temperatures tend to get colder the farther a planet is from the Sun.
Venus
is the exception, as its proximity to the Sun and dense atmosphere make it our solar system’s hottest planet.
How bad is the red spot on Jupiter?
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. Located 22 degrees south of Jupiter’s equator, it produces wind-speeds up to 432 km/h (268 mph).
How long has Jupiter’s Great Red Spot been storming for?
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
. The storm is large enough to be visible through Earth-based telescopes.
Why is the Great Red Spot so long lived?
The researchers now find that vertical flows hold the key to the Great Red Spot’s longevity:
When the storm loses energy, vertical flows move hot and cold gases in and out of the storm, restoring part of the vortex’s energy
.
Can we live on Venus?
Most astronomers feel that
it would be impossible for life to exist on Venus
. Today, Venus is a very hostile place. It is a very dry planet with no evidence of water, its surface temperature is hot enough to melt lead, and its atmosphere is so thick that the air pressure on its surface is over 90 times that on Earth.
Which is the closest planet of sun?
Mercury
is the smallest planet in our solar system. It’s a little bigger than Earth’s Moon. It is the closest planet to the Sun, but it’s actually not the hottest.
Can humans live on Mars?
Human survival on Mars would require
living in artificial Mars habitats
with complex life-support systems. One key aspect of this would be water processing systems. Being made mainly of water, a human being would die in a matter of days without it.
Why does Jupiter have a pimple?
This is due to an
internal heat source
, which is thought to drive much of Jupiter’s weather, including, presumably, the Great Red Spot. The heat likely is generated by the gradual contraction of matter under Jupiter’s enormous gravity.
