Caught in the Act: Fireballs Light up Jupiter
A fleeting bright dot on each of these images of Jupiter marks a small comet or asteroid burning up in the atmosphere. A fleeting bright dot on each of these images of Jupiter marks a small comet or asteroid burning up in the atmosphere. The image on the left was taken on June 3, 2010, by amateur astronomer Anthony Wesley, who was visiting a friend in Broken Hill, Australia, when he obtained the image with a 37-centimeter (14.5-inch) telescope.
Amateur astronomers working with professional astronomers have spotted two fireballs lighting up Jupiter’s atmosphere this summer, marking the first time Earth-based telescopes have captured relatively small objects burning up in the atmosphere of the giant planet. The two fireballs – which produced bright freckles on Jupiter that were visible through backyard telescopes – occurred on June 3, 2010, and August 20, 2010, respectively.
SOURCE Caught in the Act: Fireballs Light up Jupiter – NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
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