The Great White Spot, also known as Great White Oval, on Saturn, is a name given to storms that are large enough to be seen by telescope from Earth. The spots appear to be white, and the name was based on Jupiter's Great Red Spot. The spots can be several thousands of kilometers wide. Currently, a large band of white clouds called the Northern Electrostatic Disturbance (because of an increase in radio and plasma interference) has covered Saturn since 2010, and the Cassini orbiter is tracking the storm. Cassini information shows a loss of acetylene in the white clouds, an increase of phosphine, and an unusual temperature drop in the center of the storm. In April 2011, the storm had a second eruption. Scientists believe the white spots are made from ammonia ice pushed up by warmer gas through the tops of the planet's clouds.
Great White Spot
Questions and Answers
Q: What is the Great White Spot?
A: The Great White Spot is a storm on Saturn that is large enough to be seen by telescope from Earth.
Q: Why is it called the Great White Spot?
A: It is called the Great White Spot because the spots appear to be white and the name was based on Jupiter's Great Red Spot.
Q: How wide can the spots be?
A: The spots can be several thousands of kilometers wide.
Q: What is the Northern Electrostatic Disturbance?
A: The Northern Electrostatic Disturbance is a large band of white clouds that has covered Saturn since 2010 and is causing an increase in radio and plasma interference.
Q: What is Cassini orbiter tracking?
A: The Cassini orbiter is tracking the Northern Electrostatic Disturbance.
Q: What has the Cassini information revealed about the white clouds?
A: The Cassini information shows a loss of acetylene in the white clouds, an increase of phosphine, and an unusual temperature drop in the center of the storm.
Q: What do scientists believe the white spots are made of?
A: Scientists believe the white spots are made from ammonia ice pushed up by warmer gas through the tops of the planet's clouds.