Shoemaker-Levy 9, Comet (D/1993 F2)
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Impact marks in Jupiter's atmosphere from the collision
of Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9
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The only comet ever seen to collide with a
planet. It was discovered by Carolyn and Eugene Shoemaker
and David Levy on March 25, 1993 while it was
in orbit around Jupiter. After coming to
close to the giant in 1992, it had broken into a chain of 21 fragments,
the largest some 2 to 3 km in diameter. These fragments rammed into Jupiter's
atmosphere from July 16 to 22, 1994, creating fireballs and producing a
series of black mushroom clouds, some larger than Asia, that that rose several
thousand kilometers above the Jovian clouds. The vast black dark markings
remained visible for months. Among the many space-borne instruments trained
on this spectacular event were those of Voyager 2, Galileo, the International
Ultraviolet Explorer, Ulysses, and the Hubble Space Telescope.
Archived news
Remnants of 1994
comet impact leave puzzle at Jupiter (Aug 24, 2004)
Related
category
• COMETS
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