Big and bulky though it is, Jupiter spins very rapidly. In fact, Jupiter rotates once in just under ten hours, faster than any other planet. This means that the entire planetary surface can sometimes be seen in a single night!

Like the sun, Jupiter exhibits differential rotation, spinning slightly faster at the equator than at the poles. This differential rotation creates a dynamic atmosphere that changes night after night. Even the Great Red Spot grows and shrinks, and its color changes with time.