What is it about?
The Hubble Space Telescope observed each impact of the fragments of Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 on Jupiter. It captured spectacular mushroom clouds, expanding waves, and the long-term evolution of the impact sites. The results contributed new information on Jupiter's atmospheric dynamics, chemistry, and interior structure.
Featured Image
Why is it important?
The comet impacts provided natural experiments to probe Jupiter's troposphere and stratosphere in unique ways. The mushroom-cloud stage was accurately predicted by nuclear-bomb simulation software, and discrete waves were visible as anticipated, although they proved to be dark rings, which was not predicted. The wave speed of 454 meters per second translates into a deformation length of Ld = 2000 km at 40 degrees latitude, which is an important characterization of Jupiter's troposphere that is otherwise difficult to pin down.
Perspectives
This was the Hubble Space Telescope's first major observation following the correction of its optics, and it nicely showcased what the fully operational Hubble could do.
Professor Timothy E. Dowling
University of Louisville
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: HST imaging of atmospheric phenomena created by the impact of comet Shoemaker-Levy 9, Science, March 1995, American Association for the Advancement of Science,
DOI: 10.1126/science.7871425.
You can read the full text:
Contributors
The following have contributed to this page
