Message to all observers, 2006 June 27:
Hi everyone,

Here is the latest image from Australia ? those white spots in the NEBn were
tightly entwined and do appear to be merging!

Here also is a compilation of numerous images from June 22-25, showing the
spots beginning their final spiral. 

It includes several near-IR ("I-band") images, which (as the observers
pointed out) may show the white spots more elongating towards each other
than spiralling round each other ? but it will require careful measurement
to see if there is really a difference.  

Also, Don Parker's superb methane image matches the longitude of a visible
and an I-band image by different observers, as outlined in gold.  White spot
Z was then bright in methane, which is unusual.

I hope observers have been able to take other images in all these wavebands
over the past few days, and will continue to do so at every opportunity for
the next week.  In spite of the great range of longitudes of observers, they
seem to cluster so the same jovian features are imaged on 2 or 3 successive
rotations and then not for another 2 days!   Australian and Brazilian
observers may be able to catch the spots when others cannot, if they can be
awake at unusual times of night!  

Best wishes,
John




John H. Rogers : Jupiter Section Director,
[British Astronomical Association.]