Difficulty: Medium
Correct Answer: Jupiter
Explanation:
Introduction / Context:
Planets in our solar system show a variety of atmospheric features, including storms, bands, and spots. Jupiter is famous for its Great Red Spot, a giant storm that has raged for centuries. More recently, observations have revealed additional large scale features sometimes described as second Great Spots. This question asks you to recall on which planet a second Great Spot about 24000 kilometres across and 12000 kilometres wide has been discovered.
Given Data / Assumptions:
Concept / Approach:
Jupiter has an extremely dynamic atmosphere with strong winds, dark and light cloud bands, and huge storms. The well known Great Red Spot is a massive anticyclonic storm. Astronomers have also reported other Great Spots on Jupiter, including hot or cold spots in its upper atmosphere. The enormous size described in the question matches the scale of Jovian atmospheric features. Mars has a thin atmosphere and supports dust storms, but not permanent giant spots of comparable size. Saturn also has large storms, yet the specific reference to a second Great Spot is commonly linked with Jupiter. Mercury has almost no atmosphere and cannot support such storms.
Step-by-Step Solution:
1. Recognise that a feature 24000 km by 12000 km is extremely large, appropriate for a gas giant with a thick atmosphere.2. Recall that Jupiter is known for the Great Red Spot and other large atmospheric features.3. Observations from spacecraft and telescopes have identified additional Great Spots on Jupiter, such as hot or cold spots in the upper atmosphere.4. Mars, while having notable dust storms, has a smaller, thinner atmosphere and is not typically described as having multiple Great Spots of this enormous scale.5. Saturn does have storms, like the Great White Spot, but the specific wording second Great Spot of the given dimensions is more closely linked to Jupiter in general knowledge questions.6. Mercury has virtually no substantial atmosphere and therefore cannot host such vast atmospheric features.7. Therefore, the planet with the second Great Spot described is Jupiter.
Verification / Alternative check:
Astronomy articles commonly highlight Jupiter's Great Red Spot and other large atmospheric anomalies, including features described as Great Spots associated with auroral regions or temperature variations. Images from missions such as Juno show complex and huge structures on Jupiter, often comparable to or larger than Earth in size. Saturn's storms are also large, but exam oriented GK questions tend to associate multiple Great Spots specifically with Jupiter, building on its famous Great Red Spot.
Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option A, Saturn, is incorrect in this question context because although Saturn has major storms, it is more associated with episodic Great White Spots rather than a second Great Spot of the stated dimensions in popular general knowledge. Option B, Mars, has a thin atmosphere and supports dust storms but not enduring giant spots of that scale. Option D, Mercury, has almost no atmosphere, making such a feature impossible.
Common Pitfalls:
Students may confuse Jupiter and Saturn because both are gas giants with large storms. Another pitfall is to think of Mars since it is frequently mentioned in news, but its atmosphere is too thin for long lived Great Spots comparable to Jupiter's storms. Remembering that the original Great Red Spot belongs to Jupiter and that additional Great Spots have also been identified on Jupiter makes it easier to select the correct planet.
Final Answer:
The second huge Great Spot about 24000 km by 12000 km has been discovered on Jupiter.
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