Something Strange is Happening With Jupiter’s Great Red Spot

In Jupiter’s Great Red Spot, a storm that has been roiling for centuries, the speed in its “outer lane” is moving faster than the inner lane – and continues to pick up speed. By analyzing long-term data in this high-speed ring, researchers found the winds have increased by up to 8 percent from 2009 to 2020. These findings could only be made with Hubble: The telescope has amassed more than 10 years of regular observations, acting like a “storm watcher” for the planets in our solar system. The massive storm’s crimson-colored clouds spin counterclockwise at speeds that exceed 400 miles per hour – and the vortex is bigger than Earth itself. Its current diameter is 10,000 miles across. The red spot is legendary in part because humans have observed it for more than 150 years. For more information, visit