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Discoveries > Jupiter III

JUPITER : THE GREAT RED SPOT


Evolution of technical sobservations:  :
From left: photography (1965), CCD image (Pic du Midi),
Space probe Pioneer's image sensor (1974) and space probe Voyager's image(1979)

In 1664, Robert Hooke observed a red spot in the southern hemisphere of Jupiter. It will be shown later that it is a giant hurricane (with a diameter of more than 10 000 km) in the atmosphere of the planet. The red coloration is due to complex molecules from the atmosphere composed mainly of methane and hydrogen.

Stability and durability of this whirlwind present for hundreds years are amazing.