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Questions and Answers
What was the rare event observed in July 1994?
What was unusual about the appearance of Shoemaker-Levy 9 when it was discovered?
What caused the fragments of Shoemaker-Levy 9 to be torn apart?
How fast did Shoemaker-Levy 9 approach Jupiter?
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What was the temperature of the fireball created by the impact?
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How long did the effects of the impact last on Jupiter's atmosphere?
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What was the energy released in each explosion comparable to?
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What was the suspected cause of the extinction of the dinosaurs on Earth?
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Where did the explosions seem to occur in Jupiter's atmosphere?
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What was likely the source of the dark debris seen in the images?
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What was detected spectroscopically in the aftermath of the collisions?
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How long did it take for the fallen debris to spread around Jupiter?
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What happens to comets that survive a close encounter with the Sun?
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How long do most comets take for a round trip?
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What is true about short-period comets?
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What is unique about the orbits of comets compared to other solar-system objects?
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Study Notes
Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9
- Collided with Jupiter in July 1994, providing rare insights into comet composition and structure.
- Had a "squashed" appearance, later revealed to be composed of several large pieces following the same orbit.
- Fragments were produced when a previously normal comet was captured by Jupiter and torn apart by its strong gravitational field.
Impact on Jupiter
- Struck Jupiter's upper atmosphere at a speed of over 60 km/s, causing a series of enormous explosions.
- Each impact created a brilliant fireball hundreds of kilometers across, with a temperature of many thousands of kelvins.
- Energy released in each explosion was comparable to a billion terrestrial nuclear detonations.
Effects on Jupiter's Atmosphere
- Effects on the planet's atmosphere and vibrations produced throughout Jupiter's interior were observable for days after the impact.
- None of the cometary fragments breached the jovian clouds.
- Dark debris seen in images probably arose from the comet itself.
Composition of Comet
- Spectral lines from metals such as silicon, magnesium, and iron were detected in the aftermath of the collisions.
- Water vapor was detected spectroscopically, apparently from the melted and vaporized comet.
- Comet resembled a loosely packed snowball.
Aftermath of the Impact
- Fallen debris from the impacts evolved slowly around Jupiter's bands, eventually spreading around the planet.
- It will probably take years for all the cometary matter to settle into the body of Jupiter itself.
Comets and the Solar System
- Comets that survive a close encounter with the Sun continue their outward journey to the edge of the solar system.
- Their highly elliptical orbits take many comets far beyond Pluto, perhaps even as far as 50,000 A.U.
- Most comets take hundreds of thousands, some even millions, of years for a round trip.
Short-Period Comets
- A few "short-period" comets return for another encounter within a human life span.
- Short-period comets do not venture far beyond the distance of Pluto at aphelion.
- They are small icy chunks until they enter the vicinity of the Sun, when they acquire their spectacular tails.
Orbital Characteristics of Comets
- Unlike the orbits of other solar-system objects, the orbits of comets are not necessarily confined to within a few degrees of the ecliptic plane.
- Short-period comets tend to have prograde orbits lying close to the ecliptic.
- Long-period comets exhibit all inclinations and a wide range of orbital characteristics.
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Description
Learn about the rare event of Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9's collision with Jupiter in 1994, revealing insights into comet composition and structure. Discover how its discovery in 1993 led to a greater understanding of comets.
