Jupiter's colorful, active, structured atmosphere has made it a favorite observing target for centuries. The basic organization of the atmosphere has remained constant all those years, but every once in a while there's a twist. Now is one of those times.
The South Equatorial Belt is usually a reddish brown region that circles the planet and is home to the famed Great Red Spot. Currently, the SEB is gone, or at least invisible from Earth. It has pulled a similar disappearing act a few times, and it has always come back with a vengeance. The return is generally heralded by a huge outbreak of storms in that area.
Some astronomers suspect the SEB is not actually gone, but simply obscured by higher clouds. The fact that it always re-emerges may support that interpretation. Another probe to Jupiter may be necessary to finally solve the mystery.
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