Australian amateur astronomer Anthony Wesley has spotted a new spot on Jupiter (right). It’s not much to look at, but for astronomers, it’s reminiscent of the impact of the comet Shoemaker-Levy 9, which slammed into the gas giant in 1994.

A second comet impact would be very exciting, but it’s perhaps a little early to say whether it’s a collision or just some weather. On Bad Astronomy, astronomer Alan Fitzsimmons, who was involved in the Shoemaker-Levy observations, points to a past example of a weather system being mistaken for an impact.

The situation is developing fast. Glenn Orton, a planetary scientist at Jet Propulsion Laboratory, has been watching Jupiter with NASA Infrared Telescope atop Mauna Kea in Hawaii, and he confirms via e-mail to the Great Beyond that it does look like an impact.

Wesley appears to be keeping up with things on this webpage.

Image: A. Wesley