The Great Red Spot

Giovanni Domenico Cassini (8 June 1625 - 14 Sep 1712) was an Italian astronomer, astrologer and mathematician who first discovered the "permanent spot" on Jupiter back in the 17th century. When Cassini died, work on the the permanent spot stalled and the permanent spot was not under observation anymore. Later in 1878, American Astronomer Carr Walter Prichett named it "The great red spot" and sine then it's been under observation.

Jupiter is the fifth planet in the solar system and the largest in our solar system. Jupiter has mass two and a half times more than all the planets of solar system combined. Jupiter's surface lacks solid surface because of it's rapid rotation. Jupiter has different atmospheric bands at different latitudes resulting in intense storms when their boundaries intersect.

The Great Red Spot is a storm 20,000 kms long and 12,000 kms wide. At the edge of the oval speeds can reach up to 680 km/hr. The storm composes mostly of Hydrogen and Helium with Helium molecules 10 times less in quantity. It is believed the storm is 350 years old for us. Red Spot is shrinking at around 2 cm per year. Scientists believe that by the end of 2040 the red spot will be in circular shape. rather than in oval shape we've been watching. there is still long time for the red spot to go down in history books.

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