Comet Shoemaker-Levy approaching Jupiter, July 1994. Artist's impression of fragments of Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 approaching the planet Jupiter. Severa

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Comet Shoemaker-Levy approaching Jupiter, July 1994. Artist's impression of fragments of Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 approaching the planet Jupiter. Several fragments of the comet are seen in the foreground. Over 20 fragments, each of more than 1 km diameter, are expected to hit the planet on 18-24 July 1994. The comet was broken apart by Jupiter's gravity field during a close encounter in July 1992. The impacts will not be visible directly from Earth, but the effects on the atmosphere will be seen as the impact points rotate into view.

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Size: 4738px × 3167px
Photo credit: © CHRIS BUTLER/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: 9, astronomy, comet, cosmology, hit, impact, jupiter, planet, planetary, science, shoemaker-levy, strike, striking