|
Astronomers first
observed what has come to be known as the Great Red Spot on the
southern hemisphere of the gas giant Jupiter over three hundred
years ago. In 1972 and 1973, NASA sent two space probes (Pioneers
10 and 11) towards the gas giants in the outer reaches of our
solar system. In 1977, these probes were followed by Voyagers
I and II. We know now, using data collected by those four space
probes, that the great red spot is really a gigantic storm system,
similar to a hurricane on our own planet. The storm is massive;
three Earth’s could fit inside its borders.
Scientists have calculated that the storm is anti-cyclonic, which
means it is a high pressure storm system. Scientists have been
as yet unable to explain why it has persisted for such a long
time, but it is not an isolated phenomenon. Other, smaller storms
have been spotted periodically on the gas giant’s surface, but
none quite so large or so long lasting. Some have theorized that
the storm persists because it never encounters solid land; much
like a hurricane will persist so long as it remains over water
here on Earth.
The coloration of the spot is something of a mystery as well.
The storm periodically lessens and increases in intensity, and
the visible color of the spot changes to correspond to the intensity
of the storm. The redder the spot is, the more powerful the storm.
Scientists have theorized that the color is caused by the presence
of red phosphorus or some kind of sulfur compound, but there is
no agreement on what it could be.
|
