Jupiter — March 18 and the possible revival in the NEB!

Every few years, Jupiter’s northern equatorial band (NEB) gets quiet, thins, and pales in color (just like the southern band, but not quite as dramatically).  In very good seeing tonight and under a bright sky (the sun was at 0 degrees altitude when this imaging session started), this image of Jupiter shows that the revival of the NEB may be in progress!  Leave it to the great gas giant to attract a little attention and leave us wondering, as it prepares to slip behind the sun.  More to follow as this evening’s data is processed.

And here is an IR image taken at the end of the session.