Winds on Jupiter

The Hubble space observatory has noted a trend related to Jupiter’s great red spot. The spot is not only becoming smaller, taller and rounder, it’s winds are speeding up as well, which is exactly what we would expect if the red spot is a moon in the making.

The spot has by now a cylindrical shape. It’s protruding up above the surrounding atmosphere, and it’s speeding up. If this trend continues, we will see it protrude even more, speed up more and become even rounder and more compact. At some point, there will be enough energy to eject the red hot blob of minerals into orbit.