Jupiter just got slammed by something so big we saw it from Earth

CNET | 8/8/2019 | Eric Mack
DebraS (Posted by) Level 3
Click For Photo: https://cnet4.cbsistatic.com/img/yaBKW6-DZ7ZyRamAwJsJzUaQgK0=/756x567/2019/08/08/982acbca-beaa-4e5f-b672-500fe70ec96f/jup.jpg

The apparent moment of impact on the solar system's largest world.

An amateur astronomer caught something spectacular with a backyard telescope Wednesday when he recorded a bright flash on the surface of Jupiter. The biggest planet in the solar system routinely delivers stunning pictures, like those snapped by NASA's Juno spacecraft, but the unexpected flash has astronomers excited at the possibility of a meteor impact.

Ethan - Chappel - Telescope - Gas - Giant

Ethan Chappel pointed his telescope at the gas giant planet at just the right time, capturing the white spot seen on the lower left side of the planet in the above images on Aug. 7.

While it has yet to be confirmed by a second observer, it looks like a large asteroid crashing into the gas giant planet. The flash is brief and quickly fades away, boosting the idea that it was likely caused by an impact.

Impact - Jupiter - Today - Dr - Heidi

"Another impact on Jupiter today!" astronomer Dr. Heidi B. Hammel wrote on Twitter. "A bolide (meteor) and not likely to leave dark debris like SL9 did 25 years ago."

SL9 is Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9, which famously impacted Jupiter in 1994. Hammel led the team...
(Excerpt) Read more at: CNET
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