Jupiter, our solar system's gas giant, once again becomes the stage for a celestial spectacle as astronomers capture a luminous explosion.
Often under the watchful eye of amateur astronomers, Jupiter’s vast expanse, which is over 300 times the mass of Earth, continues to reveal its cosmic activities. Just last year, a vigilant observer captured footage of a space object crashing into the planet. Fast forward to now, a Japanese astronomy enthusiast has documented another brilliant outburst in the Jovian atmosphere.
Shared on the platform known as X (previously Twitter), the MASA Planetary Log account brought this event, dated August 29, to the limelight, showcasing a radiant flash for all to witness.
What sparked this cosmic display in the skies of Jupiter? Initial assessments suggest it could be an asteroid or possibly a shard from a comet. As this object dived into Jupiter’s expansive atmosphere, it met with the planet’s atmospheric molecules. This collision led to an intense surge of heat and friction, causing the object to brilliantly shine as telescopes from Earth recorded the event.
きのうのTLで知った木星の閃光、撮影したデータを確認してみたら写っていました。
…声が出ました(^^;
日本時間2023年8月29日1:45、世界時28日16:45です。https://t.co/UYhnvAmA63https://t.co/Y7nCHtJq4k pic.twitter.com/g0FerdyoVg— MASA Planetary Log (@MASA_06R) August 29, 2023
Peter Vereš, from the esteemed Center for Astrophysics-Harvard & Smithsonian, elaborated on the phenomenon: “This object essentially liquefied and detonated upon impact.” He further drew a parallel with Earth, noting that it’s reminiscent of meteors that burst in our atmosphere, known as fireballs. Yet, for a planet as grand as Jupiter, this was relatively small. Recalling significant cosmic events, Vereš highlighted the 1994 Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 incident that imprinted dark scars on Jupiter, some as vast as our own planet.
★木星閃光情報★
2023-08-29 01:45.5(JST)頃
北半球にて閃光現象があったとのことです。
動画撮影されてた方は確認してみて下さい
(*'ω'*)ｾﾝｺｰ
※画像は月惑星研究会石破氏のデータ pic.twitter.com/wOvcl1KriG— たけちゃん (@10ao1121takechi) August 28, 2023
With collisions forming a significant narrative in our solar system’s history, as underscored by Mashable, Jupiter’s immense size makes it a frequent target. Its gravitational might not only pulls in space debris but also holds dominion over close to 100 moons. Drawing an analogy, Vereš playfully labeled Jupiter as the “solar system’s colossal vacuum cleaner,” alluding to its tendency to draw in cosmic objects.
Have something to add? Visit Curiosmos on Facebook. Join the discussion in our mobile Telegram group. Also, follow us on Google News. Interesting in history, mysteries, and more? Visit Ancient Library’s Telegram group and become part of an exclusive group.
