Dark impact mark in Jupiters south polar region

[Keith g]

This just in all, Coutesy and Credit of Anthony Wesley, Murrumbateman, Australia at 1554UT 19 July today

Impact mark on Jupiter, 19th July 2009

A comet or asteroid may have hit Jupiter. Transit time is approximately 2.30am monday morning.

Keith..

[Vega]

Wow! Judging by the pic thats a pretty large impact. Ok not Shoemaker-Levy 9 material but still quite an event. You'd think it would reach at least some of the main news broadcasters. Not even on the Science/Nature sections of broadcasting websites either side of the pond.

Anyone else imaged it since 19th for confirmation?

Matt

[omneferuss]

NASA - New NASA Images Indicate Object Hits Jupiter

[mickyblueyes]

Another feather in the cap for amateur astronomers.

Mick

[NickH]

Truly brilliant news...

[NickH]

David Arditti, and Ian Sharp both imaged it..

Wonderful stuff

[Swamp Gas ?]

Yet another piece of planet killing sized intersteller muck goes unobserved untill it's too late.

By the size of that impact we would not be standing here if it had come our way.

I think we should thank Jupiter for being our local "garbage man"

[Vega]

I like to call it the solar system Dyson LOL

[JamesK]

He'll certainly take a bullet for us.

Why these things always seemed to be picked up by amateurs rather than proffesional observational astronomers, I can't understand. Probablly to busy looking for proof of dark matter that they can't see the huge rock under their noses. Hope this guy gets some money out of this - saying that, the recognition is a big reward on it's own for a non-pro. Will they name the asteroid/comet/crater after him?

[brianb]

Will they name the asteroid/comet/crater after him?

Apparently the pros are now calling it "The Bird Impact" after his Cloudy Nights username....

[JamesK]

Apparently the pros are now calling it "The Bird Impact" after his Cloudy Nights username....

I thought "Wesley's Comet" had a nice ring to it...

[Starstrike]

That sounds good to me, we the amateurs should call it that never mind the professionals. Paul

[daryl_lincoln]

Hubble is alive and looking a jupiter

BBC NEWS | Science & Environment | Hubble pictures Jupiter's 'scar'