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Jupitersatelliteimpact.jpg (250 × 251 pixels, file size: 8 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg)

Original caption: The impact site of one of comet SL9's fragments on Jupiter's cloud-tops.

In 1993, a strange string of comet pieces was discovered near the planet Jupiter. So unusual a sight, Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 (SL9) quickly became the object of much scientific curiosity. Studies showed that the Sun would soon perturb the orbit of SL9 so that it would actually strike Jupiter in July 1994. The studies were right. The above picture shows the impact site of SL9's fragment G on Jupiter's cloud-tops. The size of the dark outer ring is roughly the size of the Earth. Since Jupiter is mostly gas, the comet melted and evaporated before plunging too far into Jupiter's atmosphere.


Public domain This file is in the public domain in the United States because it was solely created by NASA. NASA copyright policy states that "NASA material is not protected by copyright unless noted". (See Template:PD-USGov, NASA copyright policy page or JPL Image Use Policy.)
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Credit: H. Hammel (MIT), WFPC2, HST, NASA

Document containing picture: http://www.nasa.gov/vision/universe/watchtheskies/31oct_hermes.html

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current04:16, 9 November 2004Thumbnail for version as of 04:16, 9 November 2004250 × 251 (8 KB)Gentgeen{{PD}}

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