The return of Jupiter's lost stripe (the South Equatorial Belt) is proceeding apace. At least three energetic plumes are breaking through the cloud tops of Jupiter's south equatorial zone, shown below in a weekend photo from Brian Combs of Buena Vista, Georgia. Researchers believe these plumes herald the emergence of the globe-straddling belt, mysteriously absent for nearly a year.

More images: #1, #2, #3.

Jupiter's SEB
© Brian Combs

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