JUPITER STORMS: Something remarkable is happening on the planet Jupiter in full view of amateur astronomers: Two gigantic storms are colliding. One is a "white oval" -- a 70-year old hurricane nearly the size of Earth. The other is the famous Great Red Spot -- a centuries-old tempest twice as wide as our planet.

Right: Dr. Clay Sherrod (Arkansas Sky Observatory) captured this image of the Great Red Spot and the nearby white oval on Feb. 2nd. Click on the image for photo details.

The pair will likely converge during the weeks ahead, but it will not be a head-on collision because the two storms circle the planet at slightly different latitudes. Nevertheless, the encounter should be dynamic and entertaining. Sky watchers with 6" to 10" telescopes can view the action on clear nights with good atmospheric seeing. Consult a table of Great Red Spot transit times to decide when to look.

Jupiter is easy to find; it is the brightest "star" in the sky. Northern-hemisphere sky watchers can spot it almost directly overhead at 10 p.m. local time. [sky map]