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Jupiter's famous ruddy-orange cloud belt disappeared late last year, hidden under a layer of white ammonia-ice-crystal clouds.
But photos from amateur astrophotographers over the past few days have shown the stripe making a comeback. A small white plume marks where dark clouds are beginning to bubble back to the surface, and it's getting bigger and darker every day. See the progression of the spot in the following slides as, Jupiter puts its belt back on.
Above:
Nov. 3: Jon Kristoffersen took these images of Jupiter from Crete, Greece, about a week before the stripe began to return. Jupiter dances with two of its moons, Io (left) and Europa.
Images: Jon Kristoffersen. Animation: Emil Kraaikamp
See Also:
- Jupiter's Missing Stripe Reappears
- Red in Jupiter's Spot Not What Astronomers Thought
- Hubble Finds Jupiter's Missing Stripe
- Jupiter's Magnetic Moon Generates Spectacular Light Show
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