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Credit & Copyright: NASA, Hubble Space Telescope
Explanation:
In July of 1994, pieces of
Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9,
also known as the
"string of pearls" comet,
collided with the planet Jupiter. As the comet fragments smashed in to
Jupiter, the resulting explosions scattered large quantities of dusty
cometary debris into the Jovian atmosphere. The clouds of debris created
the multiple dark smudges visible in this picture. Jupiter's rotation
causes the successive impact sites to be strung out along the cloud
bands while the strong winds cause the appearance of the smudges to
change with time. Jupiter's famous
red spot
is also visible to the left of center.
For more information about the picture see comments by the Hubble Space Telescope Comet Team.
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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: comet - Jupiter
Publications with words: comet - Jupiter
See also:
- APOD: 2024 April 21 Á Perijove 16: Passing Jupiter
- APOD: 2024 April 17 Á Total Eclipse and Comets
- APOD: 2024 April 8 Á The Changing Ion Tail of Comet Pons Brooks
- Comet Pons-Brooks at Night
- 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