New images of Jupiter reveal two enormous thunderstorms raging within the planet’s Southern Equatorial Belt (SEB). As per reports, these storms are expect to release green lightning and potentially dilute the belt’s distinct reddish-brown colour.
Observers suggest this phenomenon can drastically change the visual appearance of Jupiter’s surface.
The photographs, taken by astrophotographer Michael Karrer using an 8-inch Celestron telescope near his residence in Austria on 30th November 2024, showcase two significant white patches within the SEB, as per reports.
The white storms, describe as massive thunderstorms, were discuss by John Rogers, an astronomer at the British Astronomical Association, in a report by Spaceweather.com.
He said that similar storms were last observe on the gas giant between 2016 and 2017.
Reports says that the thunderstorms extend nearly 100 kilometres beneath Jupiter’s swirling atmosphere.
As their exact dimensions remain uncalculate, their widths are thought to exceed Earth’s diameter.
The storms also unleash green lightning, cause by atmospheric ammonia, in contrast to the blue hue of terrestrial lightning attributed to water vapour.
This was previously details in NASA research.
As the storms dissipate, their pale hues may mix with the SEB’s rusty tones.
This blending effect has report to diminish the belt’s vibrancy, and historical observations confirm that the SEB has seemingly “disappeared” during similar events, including between 1973 and 1991 and briefly in 2010, as per Astronomy Magazine.
As the current storms have already begun creating pale streaks, it remains uncertain whether they will entirely erase the SEB’s distinctive colouring.
Jupiter’s proximity to Earth, known as opposition, has made it an ideal target for astronomy enthusiasts.
Reports suggest that the planet, locate in the Taurus constellation, will remain visible for several weeks.
Stargazers with telescopes or binoculars are encourage to observe the phenomenon while conditions are favourable.
