Using the newly developed interferometric radar / NGT combination, findings suggest that rather than being, as long believed, an ongoing atmospheric storm, the spot is actually turbulence around an inner moon in a rapidly decaying orbit placing it inside Jupiter's extended atmosphere and rotating at almost the same velocity as the spectacular jet streams.
Estimates of the moon's diameter range between 200 to 300 km and the Doppler shift in the radar echoes are consistent with the moon slowing at a rate which would bring it into contact with Jupiter's core of metallic hydrogen within perhaps a few years, which would make for a more dramatic event than the impact of the various segments of comet Shoemaker-Levy.
However, as the moon is composed of nickel-iron, as demonstrated by the radar echoes, impact will be preceded by a massive and continuous electrical pulse caused by the interaction between the metal and the denser gases creating a gigantic dynamo.
Indeed, the pulse could be sufficient to arc between the planet and the four Galilean moons Io, Europa, Ganymede and Callisto.
This may result in Jupiter's magnitude increasing to match the brightness of the full moon for many months, if not years.
Dedicated Dark Sky Observers among amateur astronomers have expressed alarm at this potential threat to their dark adaption and night vision.
However, NASA is excited by the news as there is likely to be a powerful electromagnetic effect which could be used to slingshot space probes at high velocity, for example, reducing travel time to Saturn, the other gas giants and Pluto to just a few weeks.
Some optimists are rapidly preparing plans for a probe designed to reach Alpha Centauri in less than eight years.