Jupiters red spot split in 2?

[Magnum]

At the end of tonights deep sky imaging I decided to have a quick go on Jupiter (my first of the Year) this was taken at 1:18am. after stacking I was astonished to see that Jupiters Great Red Spot has split into 2 parts. I have had quick look on google and I cant find a clear consensus as to when it happened but appears to be within the last few days. I also read that Jupiter was hit by a Giant Asteroid yesterday, though that appears to have been near the Equator, off to bed now as its 4 am. will do more reaserch in the morning.

Imaged with my 10" LX200 + ToUcam Pro @ f25 = 7.5 metres focal length

Lee

[Bart]

Funny, I thought I saw something like this on Sat morning visually, but thought it was just my imagination.

[neil phillips]

Its red junior i am sure

[Ganymede12]

There was a thread a few months ago about the Red Spot Jr. It's official name is Oval BA.

http://en.wikipedia....Oval_BA#Oval_BA

No doubt this is what you saw.

[Magnum]

Ok appears I have interpreted this backwards, after reading up on this it appears what we are seeing is Red Jnr passing very close to the Great Red spot which it does every 2 years since it formed in 2000, howeverI cannot find an image anywhere which shows it as large as it does here and as close, I wonder if its possible for the 2 storms to merge into 1?

Lee

[Mr Q]

OK, now its time for everyone to start drooling as you see these images of "parent" and "child"

RED SPOT JR.

Because some of Jupiter's cloud bands move at different speeds to one another, you have seen the lower cloud belt almost seem to merge with the red spot as it passes by.

Observing Jupiter many decades ago (in the 1960s), the red spot was pretty red and very obvious but presently it has faded dramatically to a soft pink. Glad I got to see it in its glory before it started fading with age

[Darth Takahashi]

Very interesting indeed...