Final answer:
Jupiter's surface features semi-permanent atmospheric bands, the Great Red Spot, and occasional impact features like those from comet Shoemaker-Levy 9. The colors in Jupiter's atmosphere are a puzzle to scientists, with vibrant hues possibly coming from colorful hydrogen compounds rising from warmer areas.
Step-by-step explanation:
The surface of Jupiter, a gas giant, presents a dynamic and visually arresting spectacle. A series of alternating dark and light bands stretch around the planet parallel to the equator. These atmospheric bands are semi-permanent features, shifting in intensity and position over time but generally stable because of Jupiter's small axial tilt, which means the pattern does not vary with the seasons.
One of the most remarkable features observed on Jupiter's surface is the Great Red Spot, a gigantic storm larger than Earth itself with swirling clouds creating a distinctive reddish hue. Smaller, but still significant, high-pressure features known as white ovals are also visible and are approximately the size of planet Earth.
The colors on Jupiter pose a puzzle to astronomers given the planet's composition and temperature, which suggest the atmosphere should be colorless. However, we observe vibrant colors in the clouds, which may be due to colorful hydrogen compounds rising from warmer areas.
Another interesting observation is the presence of impact features. Events like the Shoemaker-Levy 9 comet impact in 1994 left dark debris clouds in Jupiter's stratosphere, larger than Earth, which emphasizes the massive scale of interactions in our solar system.