We didn't, if the theory is true it fed on the heavy hydrogen on Jupiter's atmosphere to create an explosion of sorts. The disruption of the weather systems on Jupiter's dense, massive atmosphere would ballon it. Or something like that.... think Shoemaker-Levy, yeah, big enough to some a massive extinction event but it would not explode an area the volume of several Earths.

Having studied about Jupiter's atmosphere recently, I do believe it is very likely the spot was caused by the very violent atmosphere of Jupiter since it is pretty much gaseous. I mean just look at the big red spot.

Plus the Cassini is one of the most amazing missions that was conducted by Nasa. Having analyzed data about Saturn's magnetic field obtained by Cassini gave a pretty good idea about the scope of the research that can be conducted by it. I'm no American, but I do appreciate most of the missions Nasa does in investigating the planets in the solar system.

Did a wee bit of research on this.

Galileo crashed into Jupiter on September 21st, this mark is a month later and doesn't appear in images on days either side, as can be seen in this archive (which includes the images this theory is based on).

http://alpo-j.asahikawa-med.ac.jp/Latest/Jupiter2004Apparition.htm

So the theory does not seem at all likely.

I wonder if that black spot is supossed to be a hole or a black spot.

Fuck yeah. The only good Jupiton is a dead Jupiton.

If you read the full article they explain this.

It could easily be a piece of dust or something on this "low resolution" image. Jupitor has giant storms that create spots. Also, it is a gaseous planet, how do you expect to see a crater? This is total BS. Plus why would the US risk launching a nuke out of orbit? What if there was a malfunction.

100% in agreement. I was about to post a comment when I saw yours. 

However gas planets do leave "craters" where the gas is disturbed, this "crater" usually disappears after a few weeks.

A computer simulation of a nuclear explosion on jupiter can't be too difficult. Why do the real thing?

Does anyone else seen this? Jupiter is not the least watched planet. It's actually interesting, so I think others should have monitored the planet at the same time. So, as long as I don't see different photographs of others astronomers, I think it is one of the following: a fake, dirt on the telescope or the shadow of one of the moons of Jupiter.