2026 / V.001 / N.001

The Great Red Spot is a giant anticyclonic storm in Jupiter's southern hemisphere — wider than Earth and visible from the very first telescopes that could resolve the planet. It has been continuously observed since at least 1830.

Storm

A vortex spinning counterclockwise once every six Earth days. Winds along its outer collar reach 430 km/h, while its center remains nearly motionless.

Color

The red is not pigment but absorption. Chromophores in the upper atmosphere — likely sulfur or phosphorus compounds — absorb blue and green light, letting red pass through.

Change

The storm shrinks slowly. Once twice the diameter of Earth, it is now about 1.3 times. Its shape pulses on a 90-day rhythm — wider, then narrower.

GREAT RED SPOT

The Largest Storm in the Solar System