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Jupiter is the largest and
oldest planet in our solar

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system. Its history spans 4.5
billion years. This gas giant is

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made of the same elements as a
star, but it did not grow

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massive enough to ignite.
Jupiter’s appearance is the

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result of its swirling interior
of gases and liquids – producing

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a tapestry of colorful cloud
bands as well as the iconic

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Great Red Spot.

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The Great Red Spot is a gigantic
storm. It’s an anticyclone,

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and with no land mass on the
planet to slow it down,

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the Great Red Spot has
raged for over a century.

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But scientists studying the spot
have noticed that it has been

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changing over time. The color is
deepening, and it’s actually

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shrinking and getting rounder.
Those studying it expected to

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therefore see the wind speeds
inside the Great Red Spot

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increasing as the storm shrinks
– like an ice skater who spins

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faster as she pulls in her arms.
But this isn’t the case.

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Data reveals the storm isn’t
spinning faster, it’s actually


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getting taller. You can think of
it like working with pottery.

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As the wide lump of clay spins,
forces within are driving it

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taller.  So from our
perspective, looking down on the

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clouds, we see the spot
getting smaller and rounder.

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The Great Red Spot used to be
big enough to fit three Earths.

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Now, it’s just a little over
one.

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These discoveries were made by
analyzing data from numerous

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NASA missions, including
Voyager, Hubble, and most

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recently, Juno.

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And through more
investigations, scientists hope

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to unlock more secrets of the
mysterious Great Red Spot.

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[beeping]