This image of Jupiter's white ovals BC and DE was taken by the Galileo spacecraft
Click on image for full size
JPL/NASA
Other White Ovals of Jupiter
White ovals are found at every latitude and longitude of Jupiter, not just -33 degrees where the classic ovals were
born. Take a look at some of the images in the image archive and see if you can find some of the others for yourself. There are so many white ovals that they don't all have names. However, the other white ovals near the classic three are named WO1, WO2, and WO3.
White ovals are anti-cyclonic systems, and resemble terrestrial hurricanes in that way (circulating around). In that regard they also resemble the Great Red Spot. The final fate of white ovals is to merge together, or to just fade away, as oval FA seems to have done. It is not often that ovals merge, however. Most often they come close enough to jostle, but ultimately repel each other. Scientists use the motions and activities of these white ovals to understand more about the underlying currents in the system, and other details of the weather of Jupiter.
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