Suddenly dark clouds rolled in and the sky turned black. A fierce wind began to blow, turning the weather into a raging storm. The gusts were so strong they seemed ready to lift everything into the air.
In the classroom the children sat wide‑eyed. Even the teacher stopped mid‑lesson. The windows rattled as the glass panes shook violently.
“Teacher, when will this storm stop?” a frightened child blurted, and the teacher startled. He spoke gently, “Don’t worry, children! Most storms end in minutes or hours, and some sea storms last several days. But did you know there is a storm that has been raging for more than three hundred years?”
“What storm is that?” the children asked, looking at each other in amazement. Then the teacher began to explain.
“That storm is not on Earth. It rages on the fifth and largest planet of our solar system—Jupiter—about 778 million kilometres from the Sun. Jupiter takes about 11.86 Earth years to go once around the Sun.
Jupiter is so huge that about 1,300 Earths could fit inside it. More than a hundred moons circle the planet.
Jupiter spins on its axis once every ten hours, so it rotates very quickly. It is not a solid world like Earth; it is mostly made of hydrogen and helium gas. Its atmosphere hosts powerful winds and gigantic storms.
If you look at Jupiter through a telescope at night, you will see a large reddish spot. That is called the Great Red Spot, and it is a massive storm that has been observed for at least three hundred years.
The storm is larger than Earth itself—its diameter is roughly twice that of our planet, although it has shrunk a little over time. Inside the storm the winds blow at incredible speeds.
Alhamdulillah, we are safe from such terrifying, planet‑wide storms on Earth. Still, our own seas and lands can face hurricanes, cyclones, and other natural disasters that cause great damage. In those times we must be careful and pray to Allah for safety and well‑being, for He is the One who controls everything.”
When the teacher finished, the storm outside began to calm, but the great red storm on Jupiter will keep swirling for who knows how long.
