Demoted?

Jupiter Loses Stripe, Still Retains Rank as 5th From the Sun

The largest planet in our solar system, Jupiter, has lost one of its prominent stripes, leaving its southern half looking unusually empty. This has scientists guessing as to what triggered the disappearance of the band.

As any armchair astronomer can attest, Jupiter's appearance is usually dominated by two dark bands – one in each of the northern and southern hemispheres. But recent images taken by amateur astronomers show that the southern band, known as the south equatorial belt – has simply disappeared.

I think it all started with the demotion of Pluto from planet status to that of "dwarf planet". Jupiter saw all the attention that little Pluto got and got jealous, and decided to have some "work" done to garner some publicity. Or perhaps I'm confusing Jupiter with Madonna again; after a while all those big balls of gas start to look alike...

Obviously another victim to anthropogenic global warming. I blame George W. Bush and the Chevrolet Suburban...

That is all.