SOLAR SYSTEM
Why does Jupiter have different coloured bands?
The zones and bands of Jupiter have been a mystery to astronomers since the telescope was invented
The coloured bands of Jupiter have been a subject of great fascination for centuries. When seen from a telescope, the giant planet features remarkable equatorial alternating stripes of bright and dark colours. The light stripes are called zones, while the dark ones are belts. These bands are driven by powerful atmospheric flows that travel in opposite directions at speeds, which reach 540 kilometres (340 miles) per hour.