Episodic bright and dark spots on Uranus

► A spot of high and increasing brightness was discovered on Uranus on 26 October 2011. ► This 24°N spot was found about 500 mb above the 1.2 bar methane condensation level. ► A second and 500 mb deeper brightspot was discovered just 2°N of the first. ► Their different drift rates measured from July to Dec led to many close approaches. ► Hubble imaging revealed a rare dark spot near their 25 December 2011 close approach.