Astronomers have been watching Jupiter’s Great Red Spot since the telescope was invented over 300 years ago. The large swirling storm is the biggest and longest lasting storm in our solar system. Now another storm is brewing on Jupiter.

Oval BA was discovered in 2000 as a result of three smaller spots colliding in the South Temperate Belt. The South Temperate Belt is where the Great Red Spot is located. Oval BA follows the Great Red Spot by about an hour of Jupiter’s rotation. Small white ovals merged to form the storm about half the size of the Great Red Spot. In November 2005, the oval was still white. In December, the oval turned brown. In early February, it turned red.

The giant storms stick out high above the cloudtops of Jupiter, reaching altitudes up to 6 miles. Scientists believe the powerful currents in the storm dredge up different chemicals from deeper in Jupiter’s thick atmosphere. Trace amounts of sulfur, phosphorus, and hydrocarbons are found in the red storms. Other chemicals, called chromophores or color-changing compounds, react to solar ultraviolet radiation and change to the brick red color. Scientists believe turning red is a sign the storm is intensifying and growing stronger.

Scientists don’t know how long the storm will last or if it will stay red. Studying the storm helps scientists to learn more about internal energies and dynamics. Although the official name for the storm is Oval BA, astronomers are calling it other names like Red Oval, Red Jr., Red Spot Jr., and the not-so-great Red Spot.