In the 1660s, Italian astronomer Gian Domenico Cassini made a historic discovery while observing Jupiter. He identified a massive spot on the planet, now known as the Great Red Spot or Permanent Spot, that appeared to be a powerful storm. This feature has been observed for centuries and is still one of the most intriguing mysteries for scientists to uncover.
Cassini first observed the spot in 1665 as a dark oval and noted that it appeared to be permanent, frequently reappearing in the same location with consistent size and shape. Over time, other astronomers also documented sightings of the spot until it disappeared from view in 1713. It was not until 1831 that scientists once again reported a spot in the same location Cassini had identified.
Recent research suggests that the storm observed today is not the same one Cassini saw nearly four centuries ago. The distinctive color of the spot may be due to interactions between elements in Jupiter’s atmosphere and various forms of radiation. However, what appears as a red spot from space is actually a huge anticyclone vortex twice the size of Earth, with winds raging at speeds of up to 400 miles per hour.
In a study published in Geophysical Research Letters, researchers utilized historical observations to monitor the size and movement of the spot over the years, comparing them with modern data. By simulating various scenarios, they concluded that