It has been some months since I made consecutive observation of Jupiter! Having enjoyed a brief view of Io’s transit last night, I was excited to give Jupiter another go tonight. It was awful – but clear. Strong gusts, drifting cloud and poor seeing. Typical UK conditions one might say!

Regardless, I caught the image below and noticed the observation below (now submitted to the BAA Jupiter Section for attention of John Rogers).

What on earth (jove!) is happening in the North Equatorial Belt? It appears to be splitting in two with a large, bright rift spreading east to west.

John Rogers replied: “That bright ‘rift’ in the NEB is certainly impressive — the best such feature since the NEB faded and revived.”

The BAA Jupiter Report notes:

“on Oct.8 a small bright white spot appeared at ~12.5°N on the Sp. corner of the longest faded barge (at L1=240), and intensified rapidly (although it was only modestly bright in the methane band). Its development is shown in Figures 10 & 11, and JunoCam approach images on Oct.15 (PJ55: Figure 12). It evolved into a classic rift, drifting at a rate intermediate between L1 and L2, and extending white streamers in the Sp. and Nf. directions, and sometimes renewing its very bright white core.

What on earth (jove!) is happening in the North Equatorial Belt? It appears to be splitting in two with a large, bright rift spreading east to west.

John Rogers replied: “That bright ‘rift’ in the NEB is certainly impressive — the best such feature since the NEB faded and revived.”

The BAA Jupiter Report notes:

“on Oct.8 a small bright white spot appeared at ~12.5°N on the Sp. corner of the longest faded barge (at L1=240), and intensified rapidly (although it was only modestly bright in the methane band). Its development is shown in Figures 10 & 11, and JunoCam approach images on Oct.15 (PJ55: Figure 12). It evolved into a classic rift, drifting at a rate intermediate between L1 and L2, and extending white streamers in the Sp. and Nf. directions, and sometimes renewing its very bright white core.”