Credit & Copyright: NASA,
ESA,
H. Hammel (Space Science Institute, Boulder, Co.),
and the Jupiter Impact Team
Explanation:
This sprawling dark marking is Jupiter's latest impact scar,
a debris plume created as a small asteroid or comet disintegrated
after plunging into
the gas giant's
atmosphere.
Located in Jupiter's south polar region, the
new feature was discovered
by Australian amateur astronomer Anthony Wesley on July 19.
On July 23rd Wesley's discovery was followed up by the Hubble Space
Telescope with its newly installed Wide Field Camera 3, creating
this sharpest view of the evolving debris plume.
Estimates indicate that the impacting object itself was several hundred
meters across.
Similar impact markings were created when
pieces of Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 slammed
into Jupiter's cloud bands in July of 1994.
January February March April May June July August September October November December |
|
NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings, and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris. Specific rights apply.
A service of: LHEA at NASA / GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
Based on Astronomy Picture
Of the Day
Publications with keywords: Jupiter - impact - comet - asteroid
Publications with words: Jupiter - impact - comet - asteroid
See also:
- APOD: 2024 March 18 Á Comet Pons Brooks Swirling Coma
- Comet 12P/Pons Brooks in Northern Spring
- Structure in the Tail of Comet 12P/Pons Brooks
- Jupiter over 2 Hours and 30 Minutes
- The Snows of Churyumov Gerasimenko
- Vega and Comet 12P Pons-Brooks
- APOD: 2023 November 26 Á A Dust Jet from the Surface of Comet 67P