Our Juno spacecraft captured Jupiter’s Great Red Spot in this authentic color portrait from a distance of approximately 8,648 miles (13,917 km). Scientists estimate that this iconic storm in our solar system has persisted for over 350 years. However, data suggests that the storm is gradually shrinking, with its height diminishing by an eighth and its width by at least a third since it was observed by our Voyager spacecraft in 1979.
Despite its shrinking size, the Great Red Spot still dwarfs Earth, measuring twice its diameter. Recent findings from Juno indicate that the storm extends approximately 200 miles (300 km) beneath Jupiter’s cloud layer. Since Jupiter lacks solid ground to weaken storms, wind speeds within the Great Red Spot peak at around 400 mph (643 kph).
The image depicts the Great Red Spot at the center, with swirling patterns of red, tan, and orange. The planet’s horizon curves gently in the upper portion of the photograph, contrasting the gas giant’s beige, brown, and hints of blue hues with the darkness of space.
