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Jupiter Slammed by Mystery Object

By Mary Papenfuss, Newser Staff

Posted Jul 21, 2009 3:58 AM CDT

(Newser) – A massive mysterious object scientists believe may be a comet slammed into Jupiter yesterday, AP reports. The Earth-size impact "scar" left by the object was caught on NASA's powerful infrared telescope in Hawaii. The agency was alerted to the new mark on the planet by an amateur astronomer in England who was searching the planet with his own backyard telescope, according to the Times of London.

“I couldn’t believe it. I thought, ‘That wasn’t there before’ and then I realized Jupiter had actually been hit by something," said Anthony Wesley, 44.. Jupiter was bombarded 15 years ago with by pieces of the comet Shoemaker-Levy 9. Scientists are still studying images to determine what struck the planet.

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This NASA image shows the scar from a large impact on Jupiter's south polar region captured on Monday. (AP Photo/NASA/JPL)

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It could be the impact of a comet, but we don't know for sure yet. It's been a whirlwind of a day, and this on the anniversary of the Shoemaker-Levy 9 and Apollo anniversaries is amazing. - NASA scientist Glenn Orton

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COMMENTS

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Showing 3 of 9 comments

AClotfelter

Jul 23, 2009 12:00 PM CDT

"Comets still have tails, right?" Yes, but the tail always points away from the sun, so you might not be able to see the tail from Earth. Additionally, a comet may have been obscured by Jupiter itself... assuming it even was a comet. " No possibility the scar was caused by something internal happening?" Anything is possible, fewer things are likely. " It is really hard to believe no one saw anything before the scar appeared. There are films being taken of the sky for later study and a lot of people watch the sky and no one anywhere saw anything?" Maybe you don't realize how much space there is out there. " I believe it gets pretty bright where it hits too." Based on what?

kokuaguy

Jul 21, 2009 10:15 AM CDT

I'll wait for deebs to explain this one to us............ ; ^ )

Mad

Jul 21, 2009 8:27 AM CDT

Just Jupiter, doing her job. The Sun is a major magnet in the solar system, pulling in all sorts of debris from out there. If not for the massiveness of Jupiter acting as a vacuum cleaner, Earth would have been pulverized by now

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NASA • planet • Jupiter • comet • space telescope • astronomer

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