[5] Spots in Jupiter's SEB. (July 2010.)

As everyone is looking out for the start of the SEB Revival, blue-grey spots in the SEB have been noticed by many observers.  There are actually 5 of these, and they mark the former locations of 5 barges that were tracked in 2009.  The blue-grey patches developed on the Np. edges of the barges as they faded away: the barges are now invisible or nearly so.  You can see their development on the attached set of images. I suppose the blue-grey patches represent thinning in the clouds due to wind shear around the barges.

However, it is quite possible that the circulations of the barges persist and that the SEB Revival will begin with an outbreak of white clouds in one, as in 2007. So it is still worth watchng these locations.

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John H. Rogers

Jupiter Section Director,

British Astronomical Association

http://www.britastro.org/jupiter/