Jupiter has an interesting red spot, and for years, researchers and regular folks have been attempting to find out more about it. The problem is, scientists require images taken from a closer distance. To do this, NASA has commissioned the Juno Spacecraft to fly by what is dubbed The Great Red Spot to give scientists a close-up look at the object.
For those who are unaware, the red spot is a storm brewing for the last 350 years, this according to researchers. Scientists have been watching this storm since 1830, but despite that, there’s still much to learn about Jupiter and its strange yet beautiful weather.
Scott Bolton, a principal investigator of Juno at San Antonio’s Southwest Research Institute, wants to use the best technology to learn more about the storm and how deep its runs. Finding out what makes the storm so special is key to understand more about Jupiter, so failure is not an option.
Juno spacecraft entering Jupiter’s orbit
Come July 4, the Juno spacecraft will make its first entrance into Jupiter’s orbit. On the day of July 10, the plan is to have the spacecraft flyby The Great Spot to get a close-up shot. Bear in mind, this wouldn’t the first time NASA has sent a spacecraft to collect data on the storm, but it will be the closest of all, and that’s perfect for science.
Now, as for what NASA knows of the storm, well it’s about twice as large when compared to Earth.
Not surprising when we consider Jupiter is over a thousand times that of Earth in terms of size. Additionally, no one understands why The Great Spot has managed to stick around for so long, after all, it’s merely a storm. There’s always the possibility of the spot being more than just a storm, but it may take quite a long time for humans to learn more.
One important aspect of this storm is the fact that the color is red. No one is sure why this is, and whether or not it’ll change in the future. For now, researchers have to settle with the idea of it being a storm filled with dust and gas from the planet’s surface.
Humans may never learn enough of Jupiter
Jupiter is a mysterious giant that may always be a problem for scientists to figure out.
That’s because the planet’s gravitational pull is so powerful, and the constant storms, NASA, and other space agencies won’t be able to send probes or humans directly to the planet’s surface for long-term information collection. The planet is a far different beast from Mars, and it goes to show how incredible our universe is.
