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>> HUBBLE JUST CAPTURED
A BRAND NEW IMAGE OF JUPITER

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>> Jupiter is a giant ball of gas 11 times wider 
than Earth and 300 times more massive.

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>> The planets iconic feature is a giant storm.
The Great Red Spot.

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>> Churning through the atmosphere with wind speeds of 
over 300 MPH, this storm is wrapped in mystery.
Even its true age is a riddle.

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>> In the 1800s, astronomers observed and described 
the Great Red Spot many times. 
But no one knows when the storm began.

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>> As technology advanced, scientists Learned more 
about the gas giant planet and its long-lived storm.

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>> Hubbles launch in 1990 gave
scientists clear views of Jupiter, year after year.
But they started to notice something strange happening.

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>> The storm has been getting smaller,
but its also been getting taller,
like clay squeezed on a potters wheel.

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>> As the Great Red Spot rises, it will 
encounter stronger winds that could break it apart.
Astronomers have seen changes in the way 
the storm interacts with its surroundings.

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>> In the past, material approaching the 
giant storm would be quickly torn apart.
Recently, observers witnessed reddish material circling 
the Great Red Spot before moving in or streaming by.

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>> We do not yet know the exact origin or ending of 
the Great Red Spot. But as we investigate, 
we learn how Jupiters atmosphere works.

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>> Which even helps us understand
the weather systems of Earth.

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>>Could changes to the Great Red Spot 
signal the slow end of the ages-old storm?
Only time will tell.

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>>But if it vanishes from the planet, 
it will live on in our images and 
our understanding of these beautiful gas giants.

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[INTENSE MUSIC]