Red Spot
–noun Astronomy. | a large, usually reddish gaseous vortex on the surface of Jupiter, about 14,000 by 30,000 km, that drifts about slowly as the planet rotates and has been observed for several hundred years. |
Origin: 1875–80
Science Dictionary
Great Red Spot
A very large, high-pressure atmospheric feature on the planet Jupiter, characterized by anticyclonic winds circulating at a speed of approximately 400 km (248 mi) per hour. The storm has persisted on Jupiter's surface for more than 300 years since first observed through telescopes; the cause of its reddish color is unknown.
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The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
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