Sign up for CNN’s Wonder Theory science newsletter. Explore the universe with news on fascinating discoveries, scientific advancements and more.Jupiter’s iconic Great Red Spot is a massive storm that has swirled within the atmosphere of the largest planet in the solar system for years.But astronomers have debated just how old the vortex really is, as well as when and how it formed. Some experts believed it was centuries old and first observed by Italian astronomer Giovanni Domenico Cassini in the 17th century, while others thought the storm was more recent.Now, new research suggests that the Great Red Spot formed about 190 years ago, which means that Cassini observed something else on Jupiter in 1665. And despite being younger than previously believed, the storm remains both the largest and longest-lived vortex known across our solar system, according to researchers.A study detailing the findings appeared June 16 in the journal Geophysical Research Letters.An eye on the stormJupiter’s striking appearance features stripes and spots composed of planet-encircling cloud bands and cyclonic storms. Its colors come from the composition of different atmospheric layers, which are individually made of ammonia, water ice, sulfur and phosphorus gases, according to NASA. Swift jet streams sculpt and stretch the clouds into long bands.Cyclonic storms on Jupiter can last for years because the gas planet doesn’t have a solid surface, which can slow storms down.The Great Red Spot is a massive vortex within Jupiter’s atmosphere that is about 10,159 miles (16,350 kilometers) wide, which is similar to Earth’s diameter, according to NASA. The storm towers at a height more than 200 miles (322 kilometers) tall.Screaming winds zip by at 280 miles per hour (450 kilometers per hour) along the storm’s boundaries. And its signa …
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[mwai_chat context=”Let’s have a discussion about this article:nnSign up for CNN’s Wonder Theory science newsletter. Explore the universe with news on fascinating discoveries, scientific advancements and more.Jupiter’s iconic Great Red Spot is a massive storm that has swirled within the atmosphere of the largest planet in the solar system for years.But astronomers have debated just how old the vortex really is, as well as when and how it formed. Some experts believed it was centuries old and first observed by Italian astronomer Giovanni Domenico Cassini in the 17th century, while others thought the storm was more recent.Now, new research suggests that the Great Red Spot formed about 190 years ago, which means that Cassini observed something else on Jupiter in 1665. And despite being younger than previously believed, the storm remains both the largest and longest-lived vortex known across our solar system, according to researchers.A study detailing the findings appeared June 16 in the journal Geophysical Research Letters.An eye on the stormJupiter’s striking appearance features stripes and spots composed of planet-encircling cloud bands and cyclonic storms. Its colors come from the composition of different atmospheric layers, which are individually made of ammonia, water ice, sulfur and phosphorus gases, according to NASA. Swift jet streams sculpt and stretch the clouds into long bands.Cyclonic storms on Jupiter can last for years because the gas planet doesn’t have a solid surface, which can slow storms down.The Great Red Spot is a massive vortex within Jupiter’s atmosphere that is about 10,159 miles (16,350 kilometers) wide, which is similar to Earth’s diameter, according to NASA. The storm towers at a height more than 200 miles (322 kilometers) tall.Screaming winds zip by at 280 miles per hour (450 kilometers per hour) along the storm’s boundaries. And its signa …nnDiscussion:nn” ai_name=”RocketNews AI: ” start_sentence=”Can I tell you more about this article?” text_input_placeholder=”Type ‘Yes'”]
