Zoom In, Zoom Out

The great red spot

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Zoom out

Classroom view

Activity overview

15 mins
Ages 9 – 11

Science topics:

Space

Explore Jupiter, the 'gas giant', and discuss what you see as you zoom in and out of its multi-coloured surface. Can your class use their reasoning skills to work out what it is?

Run the activity

You will be zooming in and out of the image above – starting very close and stepping back slowly.

1. Start by asking everyone:

  • What do they think the image is and why?
  • What does the image remind them of and why?

2. Every time you zoom out, ask the class:

  • Can they describe the colours, shapes and textures?
  • What do they think the image is now – have they changed their minds?

Background science

Jupiter is the largest planet, a gas giant, in our solar system. It also has more moons orbiting it than any other planet in the solar system.

Jupiter’s great red spot is actually a huge violent storm which has been raging for hundreds of years. The storm itself is larger than planet Earth. The spot is not always red and varies in colour depending on the chemical composition of Jupiter’s atmosphere.

Take it further

You could position yourself where you can’t see the images. Ask the class to describe them to you.

Why not try some of our other activities related to space? What if there was no moon?

Image credits:

JPL via NASA  CC BY-NC;

JPL via NASA  CC BY-NC;

GSFC via NASA  CC BY-NC;

GSFC via NASA  CC BY-NC;

Bruce Irving via Flickr CC BY-NC-SA;

Jan Sandberg via Wikimedia CC BY;

Bruce Irving via Flickr CC BY-NC-SA;