From Jupiter just got smacked by a space rock and an amateur astronomer caught it on camera:
Brazilian observer José Luis Pereira captured a bright flash on the solar system's largest planet Monday night [...], memorializing the fiery death of a space rock high in the Jovian atmosphere.
"I am an assiduous planetary observer," Pereira told Space.com in a written statement Tuesday (Sept. 14). "When the planets Jupiter, Saturn and Mars are in opposition, I try to make images in every possible night of clear skies. Especially [of] the planet Jupiter, my favorite."
[...] His observing setup consists of the following, he added: a Newtonian Telescope 275mm f/5,3 with a QHY5III462C camera, plus a Televue Powermate 5x (f/26,5) eyepiece and an IRUV cut filter.
(Score: 3, Troll) by aristarchus on Monday September 20 2021, @08:45PM (11 children)
Finally some actual science news that isn't about political violence! Good job, editors!
(Score: 4, Funny) by looorg on Monday September 20 2021, @09:23PM
The Arachnids are attacking from the Klendathu system. They are ranging us in. Want to know more?
(Score: 2) by DannyB on Monday September 20 2021, @09:31PM (7 children)
You don't seem to think Jupiter getting smacked by a space rock is violence? And political too!
The lower I set my standards the more accomplishments I have.
(Score: 2, Interesting) by Mockingbird on Monday September 20 2021, @09:55PM (6 children)
Some of our editors do not seem to remember the anniversary of Shoemaker-Levy 9 [nasa.gov] impacting Jupiter July 16 through July 22, 1994, which makes this impact significant, and much more a matter of luck, since this was not predicted, or indeed, predictable.
(Score: 3, Informative) by Mockingbird on Monday September 20 2021, @10:09PM
Or the recent passing of Carolyn S. Shoemaker [usgs.gov] on August 13 of this year.
(Score: 1, Funny) by Anonymous Coward on Monday September 20 2021, @10:37PM (1 child)
Or the cancellation of Eugene Levy's Schitts Creek, which was also not predicted, or indeed, predictable.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday September 21 2021, @02:20AM
Pretty sure I saw that coming!
(Score: 2) by hubie on Tuesday September 21 2021, @02:17PM (1 child)
Oh, I remember how exciting it was back in 1994. As I recall, we knew the impact was going to happen before the comet went around the Sun, which stirred some excitement. Then, when the comet appeared from the Sun, it was broken into a bunch of pieces and it became even more exiting because a bunch of objects were going to hit Jupiter. Then, once the fateful day came, I would bet almost everything had had a lens on it was pointed at Jupiter and the results didn't disappoint. The impacts were just behind the planet from our view, but the scars in the clouds were impressive, and I think a flash or two was also seen. There were some nice videos made. It was all very cool, but there was that underlying thought, "gee, what would have happened if those collided into the Earth?"
(Score: 2) by hendrikboom on Tuesday September 21 2021, @10:37PM
"gee, what would have happened if those collided into the Earth?"
Indeed, I wondered about that too. But the earth is harder to hit, being a smaller target.
And now that we have a record of several Jupiter collisions of note, and know the size ration of Jupiter to Earth, we can start to estimate how often such would happen to us.
(Score: 3, Touché) by martyb on Tuesday September 21 2021, @02:57PM
You assume incorrectly.
I took several astronomy courses in college. I was out there, staring up into the heavens, watching things unfold. For these and several other heavenly displays.
In fact, I try to restrain my personal interest in such matters when it comes to story selection. If I followed those urges, I could *easily* post 3 space-related stories per day.
As a user (non-bot) story submission, I gave it greater importance and posted it.
Oh, wait. Username checks out. =)
Seems to have lead to an interesting discussion, and that's the whole point!
Wit is intellect, dancing.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday September 21 2021, @03:26AM (1 child)
What new theory is being discussed?
What old theory is being challenged?
This is the science equivalent of the Daily Mail's colimn of shame: Jupiter Seen Going Out Unashamed of New Scar on Midrif.
Yeah, planets clear their orbits, this is one of the two ways they do this.
Some papparazzo caught it.
Bully for him. I'm sure he's terrifically delighted by it, as, like many hundreds of others round the globe, that's his hobby.
How does it affect me, or the average man? Heck, how does it affect you?
Clearly you have no scientific interest in this story, as all you do is do a sarcastic snark about the editors.
(Score: 2, Interesting) by aristarchus on Tuesday September 21 2021, @05:47AM
Any impact on the atmosphere of Jupiter reveals much about its compostion. But first we have to notice the impact, so later it can be analysed. Are you a stupid Republican fuck, with no understanding of science? Carry on.
(Score: 4, Interesting) by Snotnose on Monday September 20 2021, @09:04PM (8 children)
Looked at Jupiter, saw the all the moons plus the shadow of a moon on the planet. "Kewl", thinks me, then moves on to other things.
Couple weeks later I learned that seeing the shadow of a moon on Jupiter was a Hella Rare Event (tm). To this day I'm not sure why. Seems if everything is in the same orbital plane moon shadows on Jupiter would be normal. But not so, and I still don't understand why.
Yeah, I'm talking about the mirror in my telescope. This isn't that kind of site (check out fark.com or 4chan you weirdos)
Sadly, after 3-5 years my scope was useless. First was a high school over a mile away installing night lights for football. I could almost read in my backyard with those lights. Second was what I call the Taj Mahal of Del Mar, directly across the freeway from us. They lit that fucker up like it was some kind of monument from dusk to dawn. Between the 2 of them I was lucky to see the moon and the north star.
Fun fact. One year the perseids was due and my neighbor was into it. Midnight rolls around, my alarm goes off, I open the side gate so my neighbor could come in. I have both my 3" refractor and 10" cassegrain schmidt (spell won't fix and I won't try) setup. We settle into my pool lounges, looking for meteors. We both fall asleep. My wife woke us up when it was time to go to work.
When the dust settled America realized it was saved by a porn star.
(Score: 2) by cmdrklarg on Monday September 20 2021, @09:22PM (4 children)
Is it bad that my first thought *was* about a telescope?
The world is full of kings and queens who blind your eyes and steal your dreams.
(Score: 2) by Freeman on Monday September 20 2021, @09:30PM (2 children)
What else would you have been thinking about? A skillet? That'd get the juices flowing. Wouldn't help with Astronomy, though. Perhaps Anatomy and Physiology?
Joshua 1:9 "Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee"
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday September 21 2021, @03:31AM
Getting a 10-incher out is risky, as they're mad from fragile bakelite rather than this modern vinyl nonsense.
(Score: 3, Touché) by aristarchus on Tuesday September 21 2021, @06:54AM
Was gonna get my Big 12" out, but, you know, it was just too big. Aperture is not the same as what ever you pervs are thinking of.
(Score: 3, Funny) by DannyB on Monday September 20 2021, @09:53PM
Some telescopes start small and need to be expanded to their full size before use. This is more convenient for portable telescopes. Imagine how inconvenient it would be to have a large telescope all day when you were not using it. In an observatory, they do not have a problem with very large telescopes.
The lower I set my standards the more accomplishments I have.
(Score: 4, Interesting) by istartedi on Monday September 20 2021, @10:46PM
I was looking at the Moon through my 4.25" one time, and saw an airliner fly by at just the right angle for moonlight to come through the windows of the plane. This was in the 1980s, long before cheap ubiquitous cameras that I'd attach to a scope if I were still in the hobby today. I don't know how this stacks up to seeing a Jovian eclipse shadow, but it's still one of those unforgettable things. IIRC, somebody caught a plane flying in front of the 2017 Solar eclipse, but not at that angle.
Appended to the end of comments you post. Max: 120 chars.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday September 20 2021, @10:57PM (1 child)
Nice story Grandpa, but did you know you can get pictures of planets on the Internet now?
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday September 22 2021, @01:23AM
You can also find pictures of your momma on pornhub.