Jupiter Apparently Hit By Object, According to NASA Images

PASADENA, Calif. — Astronomers say Jupiter has apparently been struck by an object, possibly a comet.

Images taken by NASA early Monday show a scar in the atmosphere near the south pole of the gas giant.

The images, taken by the space agency's infrared telescope in Hawaii, come on the 15th anniversary of another comet strike.

In 1994, Jupiter was bombarded by pieces of the comet Shoemaker-Levy 9.

Scientists at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena captured the new images after receiving a tip from an amateur astronomer the night before.

Comments

[TJCole]

So it was discovered by an amateur astronomer­..!

Now that's the story...!

[StealGeorgia]

Not really. You don't know much about the history of astronomy and science if you think that is the story. If you had paid attention in science class you would know that science is not just for scientists that get paid for it.

What do you think an amateur is anyway? Do you think it is someone not worth paying? How short sighted. Am I _only_ an amateur burger flipper because I design software for a living instead of being a fry cook at mickie d's?

[cbates]

NASA where are the photos of the universe? You guys harbor those neat photos like your taxes are the only ones involved.

[truenortherner]

Found some here ... 500 in total.
Is this what you mean?

http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/gallery/universe

[cautionbug]

Somebody get Roy Scheider and John Lithgow!

[themodernleader]

Without Jupiter life on earth would not have had the opportunity to evolve human kind.
The universe is a hostile, violent lifeless system, except for our lonely anomaly. At least, that is all our scientists have found to this moment. To expect life anywhere else in the universe is a form of conceit and rationalizes our propensity to self destruct. After all, there are thousands or even millions of life forms, many as intelligent or more advanced than us. If we destroy our environment and ourselves, there are many other civilizations to survive and explore and explain the universe.
I believe that we are the only intelligent beings in the universe. And we must make sense out of otherwise meaningless existence. In this regard we are the emerging gods of the universe destined to explore and record its history thoughout the next billions of years. We must take care of our precious home so a billion years from now it will still support a billion or more inhabitants. As gods we must think and plan ahead in terms of hundreds and thousands of years to assure the survival and preservation of our mission.

[sviolette]

Huh? OK. I'll have a hit of what themodernleader's having.

[OkieIntellectual]

Yeah no kidding, must be good stuff :)

[jonmonbuckeye]

Yeah, I agree. He contradicts himself more than Sarah Palin on the witness stand.

[hrholmes]

how much for an o-z? lmao

[Goliadkin]

Guess that means no more dinosaurs on Jupiter. Bummer!

[VioletDatura]

brilliant! ;-)

[Dustee]

I'm glad those outer giant gas planets kind of attract some of those comet and keeps earth from being hit.

[deepintheheartoftejas]

Is that an enormous gravity well in your pocket, or are you just glad to see me?

[LMPE]

Jupiter was the Roman name of the Greek god Zeus.

[thundermummy]

What, you want a cookie or something?

[OkieIntellectual]

I'd like a cookie. Got any more?

[sviolette]

I prefer brownies.

[thebirdstheword]

in england, they call cookies "biscuits".

sorry, wanted to go on the useless trivia theme.

[aflyinyoursoup]

Oh Yeah....Ri­cky and Lucy slept in seperate beds....

[SamEllison]

The source w/pictures.
http://www.nasa.gov/topics/solarsystem/features/jup-20090720.html

[jonmonbuckeye]

What is scary is that we were not able to track it.

[dutchman]

Hopefully it's another cheap lesson for us.

[Yeah-Me]

You know... I thas thinking the same thing.

[StealGeorgia]

And yet another good reason to spend tax money on science and to be a liberal.

[cbvani]

Nice thing about Jupiter: It's gravity well is so strong that it catches a lot of things, like comets, before they reach the inner solar system.

[csmcmillion]

It's generally accepted that at least one outer gas giant like Jupiter is necessary for life to evolve on the inner planet(s) - the giant(s) sweep up the majority of the debris and greatly lengthen the interval between major impacts on the inner planets.

[StealGeorgia]

Today anyway. But 'generally accepted' is not even close to theory or fact.

[MrsFonebone]

Better Jupiter than us!

[HisPetGoat]

The Jovians may not agree.