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The mysterious color of Jupiter's Great Red Spot: Why is it always so eye-catching?
In the distant solar system, Jupiter is unparalleled in its size and magnificence, and its most eye-catching feature is undoubtedly the famous Great Red Spot. This huge anticyclonic vortex occupying Jupiter's southern hemisphere is not only the largest storm in the solar system, but also one of the most iconic astronomical phenomena in the history of human observation of Jupiter. Its fascinating red-orange hue has attracted the attention of countless astronomers, but the origin of the Great Red Spot's color is still unclear.
This majestic storm is located 22 degrees south of Jupiter's equator and has winds that can reach astonishing speeds of 432 kilometers per hour.
The history of the Great Red Spot dates back to 1831, when this mysterious phenomenon was first recorded. In fact, earlier observations can be traced back to 1665, when scientist Robert Hooke described an unidentified spot. However, scholars still debate whether the modern Great Red Spot is a continuation of the spot at that time. Are these two the same phenomenon, or is there a disappearance and rebirth in between? As observation technology advances, scientists hope to unravel this mystery.
The Great Red Spot is not only a symbol of storms, but also an important object of study in weather dynamics.
From the late 20th century to the early 21st century, with the successive launch of probes, research on the Great Red Spot became more and more detailed. In 1979, Voyager 1 sent back the first detailed image of the Great Red Spot, revealing the details and complex wave motion of its clouds. As scientists further observed the Great Red Spot, they found that it was shrinking, a phenomenon that was particularly noticeable between 2004 and 2006. Whether this process will lead to the disappearance of the Great Red Spot has become a hot topic among many astronomers.
Some people predict that if it continues to shrink at its current rate, the Great Red Spot will be a circle by 2040.
So, what causes the Great Red Spot to appear yellow, red or brown? There are several hypotheses. One hypothesis is that this may be related to chemical reactions in the high altitude, where the ultraviolet radiation from the sun changes certain compounds in Jupiter's atmosphere to produce red compounds, which we call "Solki" or complex organic compounds. This color change is also related to the brightness of the surrounding clouds. When the surrounding South Equatorial Belt becomes brighter, the Great Red Spot appears relatively dim.
Between 1947 and 1997, the Great Red Spot's color changes underwent a series of deep transformations, with the alternation of dark and light colors revealing its mysterious veil.
However, the color changes of the Great Red Spot are not limited to red and orange. According to observations, its color is sometimes close to light pink or even white. These color changes make it even more mysterious. The number of sightings depends on the observation conditions and environmental changes on Jupiter.
To sum up, Jupiter's Great Red Spot is not only a treasure for space exploration, but also the key to studying planetary climate change. Its colors and changes all reflect a huge power system operating in the universe. However, after having a basic understanding of these phenomena, we still need to think about how many unsolved mysteries are hidden behind these astronomical phenomena?
