Planet Jupiter's 'Red Spots' (near-infrared view) | Gemini North Telescope

Planet Jupiter's 'Red Spots' (near-infrared view) | Gemini North Telescope

Gemini North adaptive optics image of Jupiter and its two red spots (appearing white because this is a near-infrared image; in visible light they appear reddish). In this color composite image, white indicates cloud features at relatively high altitudes; blue indicates lower cloud structures; and red represents still deeper cloud features. The two red spots appear more white than red, because their tops hover high above the surrounding clouds. Also prominent is the polar stratospheric haze that makes Jupiter bright near the pole (unlike the other orange/red features in this image, the polar haze is high in Jupiter's atmosphere). Other tiny white spots are regions of high clouds, like towering thunderheads. In visible light, Jupiter looks orangish, but in the near-infrared the blue color is due to strong absorption features. The blue mid-level clouds are also closest to what one would see in a visual light image.

The Great Red Spot is a massive storm on Jupiter, known for its persistent high-pressure region and anticyclonic characteristics. It has been observed for over 150 years and is the largest storm in the Solar System with winds reaching up to 432 km/h (268 mph). The exact origin of its red color is still a mystery, but it is believed to be an area of upwelling in the atmosphere. The storm has been continuously observed since 1878 with its current state being influenced by its unique dynamics and the planet's atmospheric conditions. 

Learn about the Gemini North Telescope:
https://noirlab.edu/public/programs/gemini-observatory/gemini-north/

Credit: International Gemini Observatory/NOIRLab/NSF/AURA
Image Date: July 20, 2006

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