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| Great Red Spot easily visible while SEB is covered. |
As many amateur and professional astronomers alike are aware, Jupiter's Southern Equatorial Belt (SEB) vanished, or more exactly was "covered" earlier this year turning our familiar gas giant's image in telescopes a bit odd. For those of you who haven't had the opportunity to view Jupiter through a telescope, it normally has two relatively dark reddish-brown belts that circle the planet; one north and one south of its equator. For almost a year now, the southern belt has been hidden. Coincidentally, the Great Red Spot is found in the SEB and due to the similarity in color between it and the SEB, it is sometimes often hard to see in our telescopes. With the SEB covered by white clouds, the Great Red Spot has been relatively easy to see and a delight to many backyard observers. Recent turbulent storms and cloud structures in the SEB region however, herald its emminent return!
Recently white plumes have been pushing through the cloudtops where the SEB was once located and now traverse half the circumference of the planet. This chain reaction will lead to even more puffy plumes, spots and swirling clouds until the SEB is entirely visible once again. How long will it take for the complete re-emergence? No one knows exactly but the general feeling in the astronomical community is 30 to 60 days.
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| Plumes in SEB region that mark re-appearance of SEB. |
-The 5A's
