Collision of Comet Shoemaker-Levy-9 with Jupiter Observed by the NASA Infrared Telescope Facility

Orton G; Ahearn M; Baines K; Deming D; Dowling T; Goguen J; Griffith C; Hammel H; Hoffmann W; Hunten D; Jewitt D; Kostiuk T; Miller S; Noll K; Zahnle K; Achilleos N; Dayal A; Deutsch L; Espenak F; Esterle P; Friedson J; Fast K; Harrington J; Hora J; Joseph R; Kelly D; Knacke R; Lacy J; Lisse C; Rayner J; Sprague A; Shure M; Wells K; Yanamandrafisher P; Zipoy D; Bjoraker G; Buhl D; Golisch W; Griep D; Kaminski C; Arden C; Chaikin A; Goldstein J; Gilmore D; Fazio G; Kanamori T; Lam H; Livengood T; Maclow MM; Marley M; Momary T; Robertson D; Romani P; Spitale J; Sykes M; Tennyson J; Wellnitz D; Ying SW

Science, Vol.267, No.5202, 1277-1282, 1995

DOI10.1126/science.7871423 Export Citation

Collision of Comet Shoemaker-Levy-9 with Jupiter Observed by the NASA Infrared Telescope Facility

Orton G, Ahearn M, Baines K, Deming D, Dowling T, Goguen J, Griffith C, Hammel H, Hoffmann W, Hunten D, Jewitt D, Kostiuk T, Miller S, Noll K, Zahnle K, Achilleos N, Dayal A, Deutsch L, Espenak F, Esterle P, Friedson J, Fast K, Harrington J, Hora J, Joseph R, Kelly D, Knacke R, Lacy J, Lisse C, Rayner J, Sprague A, Shure M, Wells K, Yanamandrafisher P, Zipoy D, Bjoraker G, Buhl D, Golisch W, Griep D, Kaminski C, Arden C, Chaikin A, Goldstein J, Gilmore D, Fazio G, Kanamori T, Lam H, Livengood T, Maclow MM, Marley M, Momary T, Robertson D, Romani P, Spitale J, Sykes M, Tennyson J, Wellnitz D, Ying SW

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Infrared Telescope Facility was used to investigate the collision of comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 with Jupiter from 12 July to 7 August 1994. Strong thermal infrared emission lasting several minutes was observed after the impacts of fragments C, G, and R. All impacts warmed the stratosphere and some the troposphere up to several degrees. The abundance of stratospheric ammonia increased by more than 50 times. Impact-related particles extended up to a level where the atmospheric pressure measured several millibars. The north polar near-infrared aurora brightened by nearly a factor of 5 a week after the impacts.

Keywords:ETHANE