|
|
Jupiter in ultraviolet light, after being struck by Shoemaker-Levy 9
|
Ultraviolet image of Jupiter taken by the Wide Field Camera of the HST. The image shows Jupiter's atmosphere at a wavelength of 2550 Angstroms after many impacts by fragments of comet Shoemaker-Levy 9. The most recent impactor is fragment R which is below the center of Jupiter (third dark spot from the right). This photo was taken 3:55 EDT on July 21, 1994, about 2,5 hours after R's impact. A large dark patch from the impact of fragment H is visible rising on the morning (left) side. Proceeding to the right, other dark spots were caused by impacts of fragments Ql, R, D and G (now one large spot) and L, with L covering the largest area of any seen thus far.
The spots are all very dark in ultraviolet light because - we think - a large amount of dust, right after the impacts, was being deposited on the upper layers of Jupiter stratosphere - and dust absorbs Sunlight.
The dark, round spot just above the center of Jupiter is the moon "Io".
|
|