How Jupiter is Getting Its Belt Back

This image is a composite of three color images taken on Nov. 18, 2010, by the Gemini North telescope in Hawaii. The composite image shows a belt that had previously vanished in Jupiter’s atmosphere is now reappearing. Image credit: NASA/JPL/UH/NIRI/Gemin

Earlier this year, one of Jupiter’s stripes went missing. The Southern Equatorial Band started to get lighter and paler, and eventually disappeared. Now, follow-up images from both professional and amateur astronomers are showing some activity in the area of the SEB, and scientists now believe the vanished dark stripe is making a comeback. They say these new observations will help our understanding of the interaction between Jupiter’s winds and cloud chemistry. (…) Read the rest of How Jupiter is Getting Its Belt Back (621 words)

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