Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-jn8rn Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-25T15:42:34.119Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Earth-based observations of impact phenomena

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 August 2016

Philip D. Nicholson
Philip D. Nicholson*
Affiliation:
Department of Astronomy, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA

Abstract

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.

Earth-based observations at near- and mid-infrared wavelengths were obtained for at least 15 of the SL9 impacts, ranging from the spectacular G, K and L events to the barely-detected N and V impacts. Although there were a few exceptions, most of the IR lightcurves fit a common pattern of one or two relatively faint precursor flashes, followed several minutes later by the main infrared event as the explosively-ejected plume crashed down onto the jovian atmosphere. Correlations with the impact times recorded by the Galileo spacecraft and plumes imaged by the Hubble Space Telescope lead to an interpretation of the twin precursors in terms of (i) the entry of the bolide into the upper atmosphere, and (ii) the re-appearance of the rising fireball above Jupiter's limb. Positive correlations are observed between the peak IR flux observed during the splashback phase and both pre-impact size estimates for the individual SL9 fragments and the scale of the resulting ejecta deposits. None of the fragments observed to have moved off the main train of the comet by May 1994 produced a significant impact signature. Earth-based fireball temperature estimates are on the order of 750 K, 30-60 sec after impact. For the larger impacts, the unexpectedly protracted fireball emission at 2.3 μm remains unexplained. A wide range of temperatures has been inferred for the splashback phase, where shocks are expected to have heated the re-entering plume material at least briefly to several thousand K, and further modelling is required to reconcile these data.

Type
Research Article
Information
International Astronomical Union Colloquium , Volume 156: The Collision of Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 and Jupiter , May 1996 , pp. 81 - 109
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1996

References

A'Hearn, M. F., Meier, R., Wellnitz, D., and Woodney, L. 1995 Were Any Impact Flashes Seen in Reflection from the Satellites? In Proceedings of the European SL-9/Jupiter Workshop (eds. West, R. and Bohnhardt, H.) pp. 113–118. ESO.Google Scholar
Banfield, D., Gierasch, P., Squyres, S. W., Nicholson, P. D., Conrath, B. and Matthews, K. 1995 2 μm Spectrophotometry of Jovian Stratospheric Aerosols—-Scattering Opacities, Vertical Distributions and Wind Speeds. Icarus, (submitted).Google Scholar
Bjoraker, G. L., Stolovy, S. R., Herter, T. L., Gull, G. E. and Pirger, B. E. 1995 Detection of Water After the Collision of Fragments G and K of Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 with Jupiter. Science (submitted).Google Scholar
Boslough, M., Crawford, D., Robinson, A., and Trucano, T. 1994 Mass and penetration depth of Shoemaker-Levy 9 fragments from time-resolved photometry. Geophys. Res. Lett. 21, 1555.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Boslough, M., Crawford, D., Trucano, T., and Robinson, A. 1995 Numerical modeling of Shoemaker-Levy 9 impacts as a framework for interpreting observations. Geophys. Res. Lett. 22, 1821.Google Scholar
Carlson, R. W., Weissman, P. R., Segura, M., Hui, J., Smythe, W. D., Johnson, T., Baines, K. H., Drossart, P., Encrenaz, Th., and Leader, F. E. 1995a Galileo infrared observations of the Shoemaker-Levy 9 G impact fireball: A preliminary report. Geophys. Res. Lett. 22, 1557.Google Scholar
Carlson, R. W., Weissman, P. R., Hui, J., Smythe, W. D., Baines, K. H., Johnson, T. V., Drossart, P., Encrenaz, T., Leader, F. E. and Mehlman, R. 1995b Some timing and spectral aspects of the G and R collision events as observed by the Galileo near-infrared mapping spectrometer. In Proceedings of the European SL-9/Jupiter Workshop (eds. West, R. and Bohnhardt, H.) pp. 69–73. ESO.Google Scholar
Chanover, N. J., Beebe, R. F., Murrell, A. S., and Simon, A. A. 1995 Absolute Reflectivity Spectra of Jupiter: 0.25-3.5 Microns. Icarus, (submitted).Google Scholar
Chapman, C. R., Merline, W. J., Klaasen, K., Johnson, T. V., Heffernan, C., Belton, M. J. S., Ingersoll, A. P., and The Galileo Imaging Team 1995 Preliminary results of Galileo direct imaging of S-L 9 Impacts. Geophys. Res. Lett. 22, 1561.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Cochran, A. L., Armosky, B. J., Pulliam, C. E., Clark, B. E., Cochran, W. E., Frueh, M., Lester, D. F., Trafton, L., Kim, Y., Na, C., and Pryor, W. 1995 An Update on Imaging Observations from McDonald Observatory. In IAU Colloquium 156: The Collision of Comet P/Shoemaker-Levy 9 and Jupiter, p. 21.Google Scholar
Colas, F., Tiphene, D., Lecacheux, J., Drossart, P., Debatz, D., Pau, S., Rouan, D., and Sevre, F. 1995 Near-infrared imaging of SL9 impacts on Jupiter from Pic-du-Midi Observatory. Geophys. Res. Lett. 22, 1765.Google Scholar
Consolmagno, G. J. and Menard, G. 1995 A search for variations in the light curves of Io and Europa during the impact of Comet SL9: A, H, and Q events. Geophys. Res. Lett. 22, 1633.Google Scholar
Crawford, D., Boslough, M., Trucano, T., and Robinson, A. 1994. The impact of comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 on Jupiter. Shock Waves, 4, 47.Google Scholar
Deming, D and Harrington, J. 1995. no title; poster paper at IAU Colloquium 156, Baltimore MD.Google Scholar
Drossart, P., Encrenaz, T., Lecacheux, J., Colas, F., and Lagage, P.O. 1995 The time sequence of SL9/impacts H and L from infrared observations. Geophys. Res. Lett. 22, 1769.Google Scholar
Encrenaz, T., Schulz, R., Stuwe, J. A., Wiedemann, G., Drossart, P., and Crovisier, J. 1995 Near-IR spectroscopy of Jupiter at the time of SL9 impact: Emissions of CH4, , and H2 . Geophys. Res. Lett. 22, 1577.Google Scholar
Friedson, A. J., Hoffmann, W. F., Goguen, J. D., Deutsch, L. K., Orton, G. S., Hora, J. L., Dayal, A., Spitale, J. N., Wells, W. K., and Fazio, G. G. 1995 Thermal infrared lightcurves of the impact of comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 Fragment R. Geophys. Res. Lett. 22, 1569.Google Scholar
Graham, J., De Pater, I., Jernigan, J., Liu, M., and Brown, M. 1995. W. M. Keck telescope observations of the comet P/Shoemaker-Levy 9 fragment R Jupiter collision. Science 267, 1320.Google Scholar
Hamilton, D. P., Herbst, T. M., Richichi, A., Böhnhardt, H., Ortiz, J. L. 1995 Calar Alto Observations of Shoemaker-Levy 9: Characteristics of the H and L Impacts. Geophys. Res. Lett. 22, 2417.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hammel, H. B., Beebe, R. F., Ingersoll, A. P., Orton, G. S., Mills, J. R., Simon, A. A., Chodas, P., Clarke, J. T., De Jong, E., Dowling, T. E., et al. 1995 HST Imaging of Atmospheric Phenomena Created by the Impact of Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9. Science 267, 1288.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Hasegawa, H., Takeuchi, S., Watanabe, J. 1995 Grain Formation in Cometary Impact Plume. In Proceedings of the European SL-9/Jupiter Workshop (eds. West, R. and Bohnhardt, H.) pp. 279–286. ESO.Google Scholar
Herbst, T. M., Hamilton, D. P., Böhnhardt, H., and Ortiz-Moreno, J. L. 1995 Near Infrared Imaging and Spectroscopy of the SL-9 Impacts from Calar Alto. Geophys. Res. Lett. 22, 2413.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hord, C. W., Pryor, W. R., , Stewert, A. I. F., Simmons, K. E., Gebben, J. J., Barth, C. A., McClintock, W. E., Esposito, L. W., Tobiska, W. K., West, R. A., EdBerg, S. J., Ajello, J. M. and Naviaux, K. L. 1995 Direct observations of the comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 fragment G impact by Galileo UVS. Geophys. Res. Lett. 22, 1565.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lagage, P. O., Galdemard, Ph., Pantin, E., Jouan, R., Masse, P., Sauvage, M., Olofsson, G., Huldtgren, M., Nordh, L., Belmonte, J. A., Regulo, C., Rodriguez Espinosa, J. M., Vidal, L., Mosser, B., Ulla, A., and Gautier, D. 1995 SL-9 fragments A, E, H, L, Ql collision on to Jupiter: Mid-infrared light curves. Geophys. Res. Lett. 22, 1773.Google Scholar
Livengood, T. A., Käufl, H. U., Kostiuk, T., Bjoraker, G. L., Romani, P. N., WiedeMann, G., Mosser, B., and Sauvage, M. 1995 Multi-Wavelength Thermal-Infrared Imaging of SL9 Impact Phenomena. In Proceedings of the European SL-9/Jupiter Workshop (eds. West, R. and Bohnhardt, H.) pp. 1437-146. ESO.Google Scholar
Maillard, J. P., Drossart, P., Bézard, B., De Bergh, C., Lellouch, E., Marten, A., Caldwell, J., Hilico, J. C. 1995 Methane and carbon monoxide infrared emissions observed at the CFH telescope during the collision of comet SL-9 on Jupiter. Geophys. Res. Lett 22, 1573.Google Scholar
Martin, T. Z., Orton, G. S., Travis, L. D., Tamppari, L. K., and Claypool, I. 1995 Observation of Shoemaker-Levy Impacts by the Galileo Photopolarimeter radiometer. Science 268, 1875.Google Scholar
Mcgregor, P., Nicholson, P. D., and Allen, M. 1995. CASPIR observations of the collision of Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 with Jupiter. Icarus, (submitted).Google Scholar
Meadows, V. and Crisp, D. 1995 Impact Plume Composition from Near-Infrared Spectroscopy. In Proceedings of the European SL-9/Jupiter Workshop (eds. West, R. and Bohnhardt, H.) p. 239. ESO.Google Scholar
Meadows, V., Crisp, D., Orton, G., , Brooke, T., and Spencer, J. 1995 AAT IRIS Observations of the SL-9 Impacts and Initial Fireball Evolution. In Proceedings of the European SL-9/'Jupiter Workshop (eds. West, R. and Bohnhardt, H.) p. 233. ESO.Google Scholar
Moreno, F., Munoz, O., Molina, A., Lopez-Moreno, J. J., Ortiz, J. L., Rodriguez, J., Lopez-Jiminez, A., Girela, F., Larson, S. M. and Campins, H. 1995 Physical properties of the aerosol debris generated by the impact of fragment H of comet P/Shoemaker-Levy 9 on Jupiter. Geophys. Res. Lett. 22, 1609.Google Scholar
Nicholson, P. D., Gierasch, P. J., Hayward, T. L., McGhee, C. A., Moersch, J. E., Squyres, S. W., Van Cleve, J., Matthews, K., Neugebauer, G., Shupe, D., Weinberger, A., Miles, J. W., and Conrath, B. J. 1995a Palomar observations of the impact of fragment R of comet P/Shoemaker-Levy 9: I. Light curves. Geophys. Res. Lett. 22, 1613.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Nicholson, P. D., Gierasch, P. J., Hayward, T. L., McGhee, C. A., Moersch, J. E., Squyres, S. W., Van Cleve, J., Matthews, K., Neugebauer, G., Shupe, D., Weinberger, A., Miles, J. W., and Conrath, B. J. 1995b Palomar observations of the impact of fragment R of comet P/Shoemaker-Levy 9: II. Spectra. Geophys. Res. Lett. 22, 1617.Google Scholar
Ortiz, J. L., Munoz, O., Moreno, F., Molina, A., Herbst, T. M., Birkle, K., Böhnhardt, H., and Hamilton, D. P. 1995 Models of the Shoemaker-Levy 9 Collision Generated Hazes. Geophys. Res. Lett 22, 1605.Google Scholar
Orton, G., A'Hearn, M., Baines, K., Deming, D., Dowling, T., Goguen, J., Griffith, C., Hammel, H., Hoffmann, W., Hunten, D., Jewitt, D., Kostiuk, T., et al. 1995 Collision of Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 with Jupiter Observed by the NASA Infrared Telescope Facility. Science 267, 1277.Google Scholar
Sekanina, Z., Chodas, P. W., and Yeomans, D. K. 1994 Tidal Disruption and the Appearance of Periodic Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9. Astron. & Astrophysics 289, 607.Google Scholar
Skrutskie, M. F., and Aas, S. 1995 A 2.3 /mi Light Curve of the “L” impact. Icarus (submitted) .Google Scholar
Sprague, A., Bjoraker, G., Hunten, D., Witteborn, F., Kozlowski, R., and Wooden, D. 1995. Observations of H2O following the R and W impacts of comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 into Jupiter's atmosphere. Icarus (in press).Google Scholar
Takata, T., O'Keefe, J. D., Ahrens, T. J., and Orton, G. 1994 Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9: Impact on Jupiter and plume evolution. Icarus 109, 3.Google Scholar
Takeuchi, S., Hasegawa, H., Watanabe, J., Yamashita, T., Abe, M., Hirota, Y., Nishihara, E., Okumura, S., and Mori, A. 1995 Near-IR imaging observations of the cometary impact into Jupiter: Time variation of radiation from impacts of fragments C, D, and K. Geophys. Res. Lett. 22, 1581.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Watanabe, J., Yamashita, T., Hasegawa, H., Takeuchi, S., Abe, M., Hirota, Y., Nishihara, E., Okumura, S., and Mori, A. 1995 Near-IR Observation of Cometary Impacts to Jupiter: Brightness Variation of the Impact Plume of Fragment K. Publ. Astron. Soc. Japan 47, L21.Google Scholar
Weaver, H. A., A'Hearn, M. F., Arpigny, C., Boice, D. C., Feldman, P. D., Larson, S. M., Lamy, P., Levy, D. H., Marsden, B. G., Meech, K. J., Noll, K. S., et al. 1995 The Hubble Space Telescope (HST) Observing Campaign on Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9. Science 267, 1282.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
West, R. A., Karkoschka, E., Friedson, A. J., Seymour, M., Baines, K. H., and Hammel, H. B. 1995 Impact Debris Particles in Jupiter's Stratosphere. Science 267, 1296.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Woodney, L. M., Meier, R., A'Hearn, M. F., Wellnitz, D., Smith, T., Verveer, A., and Martin, R. 1995 Photometry of the Jovian Satellites During Comet D/Shoemaker-Levy 9's Impact with Jupiter. DPS meeting abstract. Google Scholar
Zahnle, K., and Maclow, M. M. 1994 The collision of Jupiter and Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9. Icarus 108, 1.Google Scholar
Zahnle, K., and Maclow, M. M. 1995. A simple model for the light curve generated by a Shoemaker-Levy 9 impact. J. Geophys. Res. 100, 16885.Google Scholar