Jupiter: Enormous impact flash seen lighting up the planet’s atmosphere

Astronomers noticed an enormous house rock slamming into Jupiter, making a blast of sunshine and vitality equal to 2 million tonnes of TNT – the brightest such occasion since 1994

By Leah Crane

Astronomers have noticed a shiny flash from an enormous house rock slamming into Jupiter. This influence flash, seen in October 2021, was the brightest one since comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 hit the planet in 1994.

Impact flashes on different worlds are much like meteorite strikes on Earth, however solely the biggest are seen from afar. Observing how these flashes have an effect on different planets can assist us perceive what’s going to occur to Earth’s ambiance when similar-sized meteorites hit our planet. …