It was the first active comet observed to be orbiting a planet, and had probably been captured by Jupiter around 20 to 30 years earlier. Calculations showed that its unusual fragmented form was due to a previous closer approach to Jupiter in July 1992.

Jupiter is the most massive planet in the Solar System and thus has a vast sphere of gravitational influence, the region of space where an asteroid capture can take place under favorable conditions.

Jul 16, 2024 · Thirty years ago, between July 16 and 22, 1994, many earthly observers looked on as Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 (SL9) struck the giant planet Jupiter. Astronomers saw the comet leave visible scars...

Jun 16, 2021 · Gas giants like Jupiter are a fundamental component of planetary systems, but how they formed has been uncertain. Here we discuss how paleomagnetic records in meteorites of the solar nebula may tell us about Jupiter's final growth stage.

Jun 30, 2019 · 25 years ago, humanity had its first glimpse of a cosmic collision when comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 crashed into Jupiter — and the whole world watched. We’ve seen evidence of impacts all throughout our solar system, but we had never before been able to watch an impact while it was happening.

Jun 18, 2019 · Scientists will be able to track winds in the stratosphere by watching the evolution of these features. Jupiter’s moon Io is the dark spot just above the center of the planet. An ultraviolet view reveals comet Shoemaker-Levy 9's multiple impacts on Jupiter.

The Jupiter trojans, commonly called trojan asteroids or simply trojans, are a large group of asteroids that share the planet Jupiter 's orbit around the Sun. Relative to Jupiter, each trojan librates around one of Jupiter's stable Lagrange points: either L4, existing 60° ahead of the planet in its orbit, or L5, 60° behind.

Apr 17, 2023 · Detailed observations made by NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope have found an answer to the flash of light seen June 3 on Jupiter. It came from a giant meteor burning up high above Jupiter’s cloud tops.

Gas giants like Jupiter are a fundamental component of planetary systems, but how they formed has been uncertain. Here we discuss how paleomagnetic records in meteorites of the solar nebula may tell us about Jupiter's final growth stage.

Here we show that the growth of Jupiter can be dated using the distinct genetic heritage and formation times of meteorites. Most meteorites derive from small bodies located in the main asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter.