Gallery: Reader Photos: Jupiter's Stripe Returns
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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.](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/wiredscience/2010/06/hubble-finds-jupiters-missing-stripe/) 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*
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__Nov. 9:__ The stripe started reasserting itself as a tiny white outbreak cloud, indicating a plume coming from below. Amateur astronomer Christopher Go in the Philippines was among the first to notice the telltale bright spot. *Image: Christopher Go*
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__Nov. 10:__ Don Parker of Florida caught the bright spot shortly after its discovery. (Note: Jupiter appears upside-down in this and some of the following images.) *Image: Don Parker*
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__Nov. 10:__ The spot appeared even brighter in the infrared. *Image: Don Parker*
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__Nov. 12:__ The spot grew noticeably in just two days, as the dark clouds that make Jupiter's belt red bubble back to the surface. *Image: Christopher Go*
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__Nov. 12:__ The spot (upper right) grew brighter still in heat-sensing infrared light. *Image: Don Parker*
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__Nov. 14:__ Just five days after it first appeared, the spot is expanding and growing darker, as seen in the upper right of this shot from Brian Combs of Georgia. The spot may soon be visible through small backyard telescopes. *Image: Brian Combs*
