Something Struck Jupiter, But It’s Not Clear What
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Something Struck Jupiter, But It’s Not Clear What
Something big has struck Jupiter, but astronomers aren’t sure what it was.
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PASADENA, Calif. (July 21, 2009)—An object, possibly a comet, has evidently struck Jupiter, astronomers say.

Images taken by NASA early Monday show a scar in the atmosphere near the south pole of the gas giant.

The images, taken by the space agency's infrared telescope in Hawaii, come on the 15th anniversary of another comet strike.

In 1994, Jupiter was bombarded by pieces of the comet Shoemaker-Levy 9.

Scientists at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena captured the new images after receiving a tip from an amateur astronomer the night before.

NASA Web Site


Latest Comments

Posted by: Ron Location: Waco on Jul 24, 2009 at 09:10 AM

The Earth is smaller than a microscopic microbe in the scheme of the universe. I guess I'm going to need to read up on Jupiter. Scientists keep calling it a gas planet, but then refer to poles and clouds as if there is a solid core down there somewhere.
Posted by: Kris Location: Waco on Jul 23, 2009 at 06:49 PM

So true, LN and Chris. It's amazing to think about just how small earth really is compared to the big scheme of things.
Posted by: Chris Location: West on Jul 22, 2009 at 12:29 PM

Exactly LN, Put earth next to jupiter and our little world will look like a grain of salt next to a basketball.
 
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