Why was the Shoemaker-Levy nine impact so important to astronomers?
Why was the Shoemaker-Levy 9 impact so important to astronomers? It dredged up material that gave us our first direct look at Jupiter’s interior composition. What characteristic distinguishes a meteorite from a terrestrial rock? less than that of any terrestrial planet.
What happened to Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 What orbit did it follow before its crashing death in 1994?
P/Shoemaker-Levy 9 probably split apart during July 1992, when scientists think it traveled within 113,000 kilometers of Jupiter’s center. During this pass in its orbit around Jupiter, the planet’s tidal forces tore it apart.
When Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 crashed into Jupiter in 1994 what happened to the larger fragments of the comet?
Watching the fireworks From July 16 to 22, 1994, 21 separate fragments of the comet smashed into Jupiter’s atmosphere, leaving blotches behind.
How did the shoemaker’s work change the field of astronomy?
Pease. Shoemaker also helped pioneer the field of astrogeology by founding the Astrogeology Research Program. He was prominently involved in the Lunar Ranger missions to the Moon, joining the television imaging team of Harold Urey and Gerard Kuiper, which turned into a preparatory mission for the future manned landing.
What did we learn from Shoemaker-Levy?
All of that tells scientists about how chemistry works in Jupiter’s atmosphere.” Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 showed us that large impacts still happen in the Solar System, and were a factor in NASA developing programs to address the impact risk to Earth.
What would happen if a comet hit Venus?
The atmosphere of Venus would be totally changed – it would get an entirely new atmosphere! The atmosphere of Venus would be totally changed – it would get an entirely new atmosphere!
Why do astronomers today think that we have an asteroid belt and not a planet between Mars and Jupiter quizlet?
Although there are many asteroids, they are widely spaced (there is lots of space between them). Why do astronomers today think that we have an asteroid belt and not a planet between Mars and Jupiter? Jupiter’s gravity prevented material in that zone from getting together. Typical asteroids are irregularly shaped.
Why are comets so easily broken apart by Jupiter or the sun?
Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 was broken into 20 pieces by Jupiter’s gravity. As comets pass through the inner solar system, they can be broken into pieces by Jupiter’s gravity.
What is Shoemaker-Levy 9 made of?
Those clouds were composed of fine organic cometary dust and dust from the fireball burning in Jupiter’s atmosphere. About one-third of the fragments produced little or no observable effects, suggesting that their nuclei were very small, probably less than 100 metres (330 feet) in diameter.
What would happen if a comet hit Mars?
According to NASA, the comet is likely 1-3 kilometers (0.6-1.9 miles) wide and traveling at 56 kilometers per second (125,000 mph). “It if does hit Mars, it would deliver as much energy as 35 million megatons of TNT,” added Yeomans. The result could be a warmer, wetter Mars than we’re accustomed to today.”
Why was the Comet Shoemaker Levy 9 important?
All of that tells scientists about how chemistry works in Jupiter’s atmosphere.” Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 showed us that large impacts still happen in the Solar System, and were a factor in NASA developing programs to address the impact risk to Earth.
What was the impact of Shoemaker Levy 9 on Jupiter?
From July 16 through July 22, 1994, fragments of Comet P/Shoemaker-Levy 9 collided with Jupiter, with dramatic effect. This was the first collision of two solar system bodies ever to be observed. Shoemaker-Levy 9 consists of 20 discernable fragments with diameters estimated at up to 2 kilometers, which impacted the planet at 60 km/s.
How big is Shoemaker Levy 9 in kilometers?
Shoemaker-Levy 9 consists of 20 discernable fragments with diameters estimated at up to 2 kilometers, which impacted the planet at 60 km/s. The impacts resulted in plumes many thousands of kilometers high, hot “bubbles” of gas in the atmosphere, and large dark “scars” on the atmosphere which have lifetimes at least on the order of weeks.
What was the name of the Comet Shoemaker 9?
Comet Shoemaker–Levy 9 was the ninth periodic comet (a comet whose orbital period is 200 years or less) discovered by the Shoemakers and Levy, hence its name.