Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 Approaches Jupiter, 1994
Composite is assembled from separate images of Jupiter and comet Shoemaker-Levy 9, as imaged by the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope in 1994. Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 was discovered by astronomers Carolyn and Eugene M. Shoemaker and David Levy on March 24, 1993. It was the first comet observed to be orbiting a planet (Jupiter in this case) rather than the Sun. The effect of Jupiter's tidal forces tore the comet apart on its approach and, eventually, the fragments collided with Jupiter between July 16 and 22, 1994. The image of the comet, showing 21 fragments, was taken on May 17, 1994. The image of Jupiter was taken on May 18, 1994; the dark spot on the planet's disc is the shadow of the inner moon lo. The apparent angular size of Jupiter relative to the comet and its angular separation from the comet when the images were taken have been modified for illustration purposes.
Size: 3263px × 4350px
Photo credit: © Photo Researchers / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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