See Jupiter's Great Black Spot

Posted: Friday, July 24, 2009 4:25 PM by Alan Boyle

H. Hammel (SSI) / NASA / ESA / Jupiter Impact Team

The Hubble Space Telescope's brand-new Wide Field Camera 3 took
this picture of the expanding black spot on Jupiter on Thursday.

Even though it's in the middle of a post-makeover checkout, the Hubble Space Telescope was turned toward Jupiter this week to capture a picture of the bruise left behind by a comet or asteroid - and it's a real beaut of a shiner.

Hubble's view, captured by its brand-new Wide Field Camera 3 on Thursday, is the sharpest visible-light image of the impact site, which was first seen by Australian amateur astronomer Anthony Wesley on Sunday and has been changing day by day. The picture also represents Hubble's first science observation since it was upgraded during May's final servicing mission by the space shuttle Atlantis' crew.

"This is just one example of what Hubble's new, state-of-the-art camera can do, thanks to the STS-125 astronauts and the entire Hubble team," Ed Weiler, associate administrator of NASA's Science Mission Directorate, said in an image advisory released today. "However, the best is yet to come!"

The team behind the observations was led by Space Science Institute astronomer Heidi Hammel. In the advisory, Hammel said the imagery "has revealed an astonishing wealth of data" about the impact site.

"By combining these images with our ground-based data at other wavelengths, our Hubble data will allow a comprehensive understanding of exactly what is happening to the impact debris," she said. Hammel was also part of a team that made mid-infrared observations of the Great Black Spot earlier in the week, using the Gemini North telescope in Hawaii.

I. de Pater (Berkeley) / H. Hammel (SSI) / T. Rector (U. of AK-Anchorage) / Gemini Obs.

This mid-infrared image of the impact site on Jupiter was captured by the Gemini
North telescope in Hawaii. The yellow arrow points to the "bruise."

Astronomers don't yet know what caused the impact, but it was almost certainly a comet or asteroid. The bruise left behind looks strikingly like the scars created 15 years earlier by Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9's famous smash-up in Jupiter's atmosphere.

Amy Simon-Miller of NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center noted that the plume of dark debris emanating from the impact area is lumpy, due to turbulence in Jupiter's atmosphere.

The Great Black Spot is currently about 6,000 miles wide, or twice as wide as the European continent. (This picture provides a length scale). Simon-Miller told me that the object causing the bruise was probably a couple of hundred meters (yards) wide - not as big as the biggest fragment from Shoemaker-Levy 9, but still pretty big. The Hubble team says the force of the explosion was thousands of times more powerful than the Tunguska impact, which devastated 500,000 acres of Siberian forest land in 1908.

One big question about the impact is: Why didn't we see this coming? What does this say about our ability to detect potential killer asteroids or comets before they hit Earth?

NASA and other agencies are spending millions of dollars to find and track thousands of near-Earth objects (including potentially hazardous asteroids). Less attention is being devoted to tracking the thousands of near-Jupiter objects (including Trojan asteroids).

Professional and amateur astronomers keep a close watch for asteroids or comets that wander into our celestial neighborhood, but they can't see everything at a distance. Some of the smaller asteroids pass right by us before they're spotted. "The reality is, if something is really dark, it's going to be hard to see," Simon-Miller said.

The good news is that Jupiter acts as something of a gravitational vacuum cleaner, sucking in deep-space impacts that might otherwise whack Earth. The bad news is that much more needs to be done to detect potentially harmful space rocks, and draw up a plan to protect our planet when (not if) we find one. In that sense, Jupiter's black eye serves as a warning that we better put up our dukes.

In addition to Hammel and Simon-Miller, the Jupiter Impact Team includes Keith Noll and Michael Wong of the Space Telescope Science Institute, John Clarke of Boston University, Imke de Pater of the University of California at Berkeley, Glenn Orton of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory and Agustin Sanchez-Lavega of the University of the Basque Country in Spain. Discretionary time for the Hubble observations was allocated by STScI director Matt Mountain.

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Comments

Sorry but resources shouldn't be wasted on detecting the extremely unlikely event of an major impact. It sounds like astromomers trying to fish for funding.

Steve Miller, Boston, MA (Sent Friday, July 24, 2009 5:07 PM)

I think it is entirely appropriate that we spend some time and energy looking for potential space objects that could strike the earth.

Even though the odds are low on a yearly basis, a hit by a large object could be catastrophic. If we know its coming, perhaps we can do something about it. If we know long enough in advance, we can nudge it into a new course that will miss the earth. If we don't know soon enough, we will just have to sit here and take the consequences.

Polar Bear, Lethbridge, Alberta (Sent Friday, July 24, 2009 5:28 PM)

Unlikely says Steve Miller: Look up Tunguska as was mentioned in the article. Three hours one way or six the other and either Europe or North America would have felt that. Meteor Crater in Arizona, and the Yucatan peninsula shows what they can do. Even if it happens once every two-three or four hundred years we should still have preparations in place.

Avery in East L.A. (Sent Friday, July 24, 2009 5:29 PM)

Perhaps Steve you would prefer the money were to be spent on Clayton threats like carbon dioxide induced AGW?

Dave Little, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia (Sent Friday, July 24, 2009 5:30 PM)

So give it to them! Better spent in my opinion then the GM/Chrysler handout!

One Mans Opinion (Sent Friday, July 24, 2009 5:33 PM)

Asteroid densities tend to range from about 1.0 to 3.5 g/cm^3, so at a "couple hundred" meters wide, this thing would have about 1.17264 x10^11 kilos of mass... moving at a typical impact speed of 20 km/s would yield an energy release of 2.345 x 10^19 Joules! That's like 5.6 BILLION TONS of TNT!!! The largest nuclear bomb ever was 100 times smaller, at (only) 50 million tons... Something like this on Earth would take out an entire state, not just a city...

Frank, Dallas, TX (Sent Friday, July 24, 2009 5:41 PM)

Steve Miller, Boston, MA. I think this occurence only supports the idea of tracking NEOs. Not the opposite. "Extremely unlikely" is also a strange way to describe an event that happens daily (given, it's never on this scale... Meteor showers anyone?) When the gigantic exception occurs, I would rather we be ready than getting a continent smashed. There are other environmental impacts besides a big crater btw. I felt the need to mention that considering your statement. Money spent monitoring NEO's is very well spent.

Aegliss, Shelbyville, TN (Sent Friday, July 24, 2009 5:54 PM)

Risk vs gain. Although the event is, indeed, extremely unlikely, the consequences are an existential threat to civilization and possibly life itself. HUGE RISK. This is why we have insurance, no?
You DO have insurance in various forms, don't you?

Ray Kirk, Simi Valley, CA (Sent Friday, July 24, 2009 6:09 PM)

"Jupiter acts as something of a gravitational vacuum cleaner"
--
yes, I've called Jupiter yesterday here the "visible black hole" of our solar system...
--
but, if we see the evolution of our solar system from this point of view, we could change (in part) our theories about WHY there is life on Earth and WHY there is NOT elsewhere
--
in other words, the "life" (as we know it) may need (also) of a mid-sized star, a small sized planet, the right orbit around the star, an atmosphere, a Van Allen belt, etc., to born, but, it should (absolutely) need (also) a planets system (solar system for us) with many big planets like Jupiter and Saturn, in the right external orbits, that must CLEAN the Space from everything that may kill the life on the mid-sized/mid-orbit planet everytime the life borns on it
--
that's probably why there are so many exo-planets but not so many exo-lives
--

gaetano marano (Sent Friday, July 24, 2009 6:13 PM)

No one alive has seen a meteor impact. No one has been killed in recorded history, yet people want billions spent keeping track of this "danger." hmmm

talk about fear-based thinking.

You're thousands of times more likely to die getting out of bed in the morning from an unforeseen accident than ever be killed, even see a meteor crash into the Earth.

The most recent impact happened in Peru. It was a small one, hurt no one.

Tunkguska also was UNseen, and HURT NO ONE.

Oh and as for not spotting this one that crashed into jupiter..... such total idiocy from a news media "science editor."

Perhaps he should read what he wrote He might realize just how silly that comment was.

Finding a rock a few hundred meters wide in the vicinity of Jupider. GET REAL!

Yes we've spotted little things before, but usually a few miles accross, not yards, and those are mainly moons of Jupiter and Saturn Etc.

Finding such small space objects hear Earth is almost impossible. It is quite a feat, and when it happens by accident. While tracking something else they see a spot, and after many months or years to make sure it's not something else its then "discovered."

If you don't believe me, have you had a chance to enjoy what some Astronomers consider to be Earth's second moon. Yes there is such an object, closer to us than any other object in space except the moon.

Don't be too upset if you haven't seen the pics. No one has any worth looking at. It is simply too small to get a picture of, and it is at least the same size as this meteor that hit Jupiter, and 100s of times CLOSER to boot.

Think before you fear.

jonathan seer (Sent Friday, July 24, 2009 6:16 PM)

I wonder why the spot is expanding? Maybe it is a black hole? LOL.

"The Hubble Space Telescope's brand-new Wide Field Camera 3 took this picture of the expanding black spot on Jupiter on Thursday."

Keith Aymar, Clifton, NJ (Sent Friday, July 24, 2009 6:23 PM)

In addition to tracking NEOs, we need to spread civilization to other planets. Currently, if Earth was to be hit by a big enough object, we could all go extinct. If we colonized Mars, for example, we would no longer have our eggs in one basket.

Justin, Alamogordo, NM (Sent Friday, July 24, 2009 6:32 PM)

When it happens, I want to be at ground zero.
Vaporized, instantly!

wmdavid (Sent Friday, July 24, 2009 6:40 PM)

We'll see if Steve starts singing a different tune when Apophis, an asteroid the size of the Rose Bowl, starts making its near earth appearances. With a 1 in 450 chance that this asteroid will collide with earth in 2036, I think that the Steve types in the world will become the "Well why weren't we doing something about this to begin with!" types. An ounce of prevention is worth an ounce of cure.

Scott, Alexandria, VA (Sent Friday, July 24, 2009 6:48 PM)

The solar system is awesome, beautiful, and cool. Let's keep studying it and understanding it and marvelling at it.

John Chadwick, Charlotte, NC (Sent Friday, July 24, 2009 6:51 PM)

My God. It's full of stars...

John Doe, Richmond, Va (Sent Friday, July 24, 2009 6:55 PM)

Anyone who thinks this will never happen on this planet again is deluded. Maybe not in our lifetime but then again there are some very close KNOWN asteroids that are still not 100 percent ruled out for colliding with us in the next 30 years. And we still don't see a ton of them that could hit tomorrow for all we know. Its stupid to not be prepared because WE KNOW this happens to our planet every so often.

Anthony M Patchogue NY (Sent Friday, July 24, 2009 7:08 PM)

If an astroid can come within 32,000 miles of earth and only be noticed two weeks later,I am not suprised that this was not predicted before hand.

John Nettles (Sent Friday, July 24, 2009 7:31 PM)

All of the money that is being spent on preventing greenhouse gasses will will be moot point when a small one hits us. Maybe the Obama administration would be better off spending money on the effects of watching the wizard of oz on black children.

Doug, Wyoming MI (Sent Friday, July 24, 2009 7:32 PM)

On a cost/benefit basis, which is how business works, looking for planet killer is way up there on the very, very good list. After all, there isn't any do-over from planet wide death. The cost of looking is minuscule compared to the cost of failing to find it!

Low odds of getting hit? Sure, about the same a Venus and it's been hit twice in ten years, each time with what would be a planet killer for us. If you beleive in God, I'd say it's a warning. If you don't believe in God, then I'd say looking at the odds isn't the way to go. Oh, as for the odds...millions of people play games of chance with worse odds, so let's forget about odds and DO SOMETHING to try to avoid Jupiter's fate!

robert1234 (Sent Friday, July 24, 2009 7:48 PM)

it's 2010, expect the black spot to grow until it takes over the entire planet and then.....

syfy lover (Sent Friday, July 24, 2009 8:28 PM)

That black hole sure looks like it got more than a bruise, it almost looks like it is bleeding something?

John, Mt. Plymouth, Fla. (Sent Friday, July 24, 2009 8:44 PM)

Very scary that we didn't know until after the fact. I guess this stuff isn't as easy to figure out as it is in the movies. I say give them more money to hope to try to protect or warn us. it's the least my tax dollars can do.

Chris corbray, Seattle, Wash. (Sent Friday, July 24, 2009 8:54 PM)

Only thing we can do if one of these things is going to hit us is buy a buncha canned food, go underground and wait it out. Deterring a strike is purely science fiction.

Mike, Dallas, TX (Sent Friday, July 24, 2009 9:04 PM)

What's truly sad, is that we were not there to see it. People want to speak knowledgeably about wasting resources on any part of a space program, when that is the only way to provide for more. Too many of us have a "fishbowl" mindset and we end-up prevaricating on even looking for the threats. We should be out there already.

don smith, tulsa, ok (Sent Friday, July 24, 2009 9:05 PM)

That picture quality is rubbish, after spending $billions, I would like to at least see a clear picture of something that is inside our own solar system, if not, then whats the use of spending all this money, why cant we spend it on healthcare first? Stupid Republicans.

Rick (Sent Friday, July 24, 2009 9:22 PM)

I read in a few blogs that the people that object to this sort of research and/or the money being spent on it say they are fiscally conservative and vote Republican. They say that scientists are liberals, therefore American doesn't need them, like America doesn't need the theory of evolution taught in any schools. They say it's fiscally irresponsible, immoral to contaminate children this way with false ideas, and violates their religious beliefs; thus, they conclude that science is a false god, and, instrument of the evil delusions of men, and is also unconstitutional because it spends tax money on things the founding fathers didn't need or have.

No way am I saying whom I am for fear of reprisals from the wing-nuts. (Sent Friday, July 24, 2009 9:35 PM)

Mr. Seer : I've never seen a bacteria either, but I know they can be dangerous. I've never seen a terrorist bomber firsthand either, but I know they ARE dangerous. Considering that there have been near total earth extinctions every 250 million years, and we are overdue for one NOW, it might be worth spending a couple of million every year to take a look. We spend $100 BILLION dollars on GOLF every year in this country, so a couple of bucks for some people to look around is well spent, even if they find nothing. OR, you could just re-bury your head in the sand, and not worry about it.......

Pete, Portland, Maine (Sent Friday, July 24, 2009 9:35 PM)

It's incredibly naive to think that it's 'higly unlikely' that the earth will be impacted by a planet-killer or region-killer body. Let's examine, shall we?

1. That big thing in the sky at night is attributed to a huge impact at one point in our planet's history.

2.Barringer Crater, AZ

3.During the last 600 million years, the Earth has ben struck by 60 objects of a diameter of five kilometers or more. The smallest of these impactors would release the equivalent of ten million megatons of TNT and leave a crater 95 kilometers across.

4.Rio Cuarto Craters

5. Wabar Craters

6. The Clovis Comet

7. The Holocene Impact/Burckle Crater (oh, and that's a measly 18 MILES wide, and created a tsunami with an estimated crest of 600 feet...)

8. Tunguska

I mean, seriously, are we SO INCREDIBLY NAIVE to believe that we're immune from what happened to Jupiter recently? Thus far mankind's very short history has been blessed with good fortune. All it will take is one impact of substantial mass and energy to change life as we know it into a fossil record.

8.

Pete, Independence KY (Sent Friday, July 24, 2009 9:43 PM)

I wish Arthur C Clarke was alive to see this.

Ham White, Longmont, CO (Sent Friday, July 24, 2009 9:46 PM)

Gore worries about carbon credits
and buying power for his little home

jerry Wegendt (Sent Friday, July 24, 2009 9:52 PM)

I find it ironic that people are arguing the merits of R&D spending on a medium that resulted from "foolishly wasted" government spending on research. All technology is initially expensive and it's rarely easy to see the practical applications until it filters down into common usage. Every single advance humans have ever had came from a risky investment into an unproven scientific theory. Even if we cannot find a way to stop the "big one", we know for certain this planet has a limited and finite lifespan. Not think, know. The only way for the human race to survive is to get off this rock. To those who suggest that that is a good thing: start the process and stop wasting our air.

Jim, Greenville, NC (Sent Friday, July 24, 2009 10:08 PM)

I'm missing it - something big did hit earth in 1901 resulting in a blast estimated to be 1000 times greater than that created by the bomb dropped on Hiroshima. It's known as the Tunguska event. Luckily, no one of note was under it. Next time? Who knows. Might be worth knowing about ahead of time.

Eric, Moscow Idahoe (Sent Friday, July 24, 2009 10:08 PM)

Just dreaming of the day when one of these comets misses Jupiter and the orbital dynamics are changed that would put it on an impact course for Mars.

What would a 5 mile wide comet with frozen ice do regarding the atmosphere? What if the ice was carbon dioxide, or nitrogen. Maybe one day....Oh wait that is probably after 2012 and December 21st...and no one will exist.

Jerry M. Weikle, Indiana (Sent Friday, July 24, 2009 10:17 PM)

Jupiter Ignition. Google it.

John Frederickson (Sent Friday, July 24, 2009 10:18 PM)

Better to give funding to support people who worked long and hard to get an advanced education than giv eit away to lazy thugs who be owed a free ride.

Jva (Sent Friday, July 24, 2009 10:21 PM)

If the spot continues to expand daily, watch Space Odyssey 2010.

Jim, Chicago, IL (Sent Friday, July 24, 2009 10:23 PM)

Lions and tigers and bears, oh my!

Robert, Los Angeles, CA (Sent Friday, July 24, 2009 10:25 PM)

There is a new theory out there that relatively large asteroids -- not "extinction level" rocks but instead rocks large enough to form expansive 50 ft. or higher tsunamis (larger than the Indian Ocean tsunami a few years ago that killed 250,000) -- hit the oceans not every 100,000 years or so but every 2,000 years or so (and their evidence is pretty compelling). If these scientists are right, then this debate of "risk/consequence" takes on a whole new definition and urgency. Steve, if these scientists are right, you have about a 1/10,000 chance every year of Boston becoming completely submerged. Still against NEO funding?

Randy, Lansing, Michigan (Sent Friday, July 24, 2009 10:34 PM)

The asteroid that impacted Tunguska in 1908 Was seen, Was heard, and created a spectular impact site. It was relatively small. The Arizona Crater and the Yucatan impact sites were long before men began our march toward self destruction. A much larger threat will be that meteor or asteroid that does not impact land. If even a small asteroid or meteor should land in the ocean off the Atlantic seaboard or a few miles off the California or Oregon Coast the wave action and shock wave might well make any historically recorded earthquake an insignificant occurrance. The same will apply to any coastal region of Europe, Africa, or South America. Yes I'll be in favor of watching for these visiting rocks.

Mike Morrison Wichita, Ks. (Sent Friday, July 24, 2009 10:52 PM)

Ever wonder what happened to the magnificent dinosaurs? We as humans will someday meet the same fate. A huge meteor impact. Its inevitable

Harold, Ellenwood, GA (Sent Friday, July 24, 2009 10:53 PM)

It never ceases to amaze me how ignorant some people are about technology. The average Joe can barely balance their checkbook, and we have the above folks who piss and moan when NASA gets one half of one percent of the budget for ALL their research, development, and operations. That includes the whole enchilada kids, the space station, the shuttle, the new rockets, and all other scientific research. We just gave trillions to a bunch of companies who have been bled to death by knuckle dragging unions for decades and they still fail! At least NASA makes advances that help every stinking person on this miserable rock in space. You benefit no matter how dumb you are! For every dollar that NASA gets the government spends 98 on social programs. Now granted, some are needed, but if we just forced the waste in government to become 1 percent more efficient we could DOUBLE NASA's budget! By the way, unless you understand optics which usually requires a degree in either physics or engineering stop whining about how you think our systems aren't any good. Science in this country has advanced by leaps and bounds from the hard work of people much smarter than you, so quit whining, go contribute or shut your pie hole!

Real Genius (Sent Friday, July 24, 2009 10:56 PM)

And after all those that say "it will never happen to us" is right when Murphy's kicks us in the side. Then those same people will panic and wonder why nobody's doing anything. Never say never because the next thing you know it's on your doorstep knocking at your door.

Rick, Denver, CO (Sent Friday, July 24, 2009 11:14 PM)

President Obama is cutting NASA funding. When something hits Earth, it would be a good thing if we had colonies on other celestial bodies?

As for it beg highly unlikely, it is highly unlikely I will get into a car wreck tomorrow, but I have insurance just in case. Why not take out some Earth insurance?

Daniel Miller, Monument, Colorado (Sent Friday, July 24, 2009 11:40 PM)

"Tunkguska also was UNseen, and HURT NO ONE."

Tunguska *was* observed by people in the region and that it hit one of the most sparsely populated places on Earth was...luck. Pure and simple.

As noted above, if it had arrived a few hours earlier or later, it would have been a *very* different story...

"I wish Arthur C Clarke was alive to see this."

He *was* around for Shoemaker-Levy 9 (with similar black spots at the impact points). He knew the possibilities...

"That picture quality is rubbish, after spending $billions, I would like to at least see a clear picture of something that is inside our own solar system..."

Get a clue, Rick;

It's still far away.

Before Hubble, you had pictures you would've liked even less. Don't expect the entire Universe to suddenly match your 1080p count-the-hairs TV.

"...if not, then whats the use of spending all this money..."

If we want an even closer look, we could spend a few bucks on space probes...oh, wait. We did. Go look it up.

Frank Glover, Rochestr, NY (Sent Friday, July 24, 2009 11:47 PM)

You can fund finding these objects if you want.
But, if one is found to be on a destructive collision course with Earth, do you really, REALLY think the government will make it public knowledge?
NAAAAH.

Corsair977 (Sent Saturday, July 25, 2009 12:04 AM)

LOL! Thank you Mr. Chadwick and Mr. Doe! I believe you've the right spirit....

The solar system is awesome, beautiful, and cool. Let's keep studying it and understanding it and marvelling at it.
John Chadwick, Charlotte, NC (Sent Friday, July 24, 2009 6:51 PM)

My God. It's full of stars...
John Doe, Richmond, Va (Sent Friday, July 24, 2009 6:55 PM)

Lance-SF (Sent Saturday, July 25, 2009 12:18 AM)

That is pretty cool just like 2010 Space Odyssey. Now seriously... Someone said we should not invest on programs to detect NEOs (Near Earth Objects for the astronomically challenged) is simply stupid. Yes we are lucky to have Jupiter as a gravitational magnet but a collision with earth is not a matter of debate. It will happen, it has happened more than we can imagine so we must protect this beautiful oasis we live in from a cataclismic impact.
Now we know Jupiter is not truly solid so that may be why the spot is expanding in the heavy gas atmosphere.
Now if it keeps expanding until Jupiter implodes we just might see that message in the sky: ALL THESE WORLDS ARE YOURS EXCEPT EUROPA... ATTEMPT NO LANDING THERE

Rafael, NYC, NY (Sent Saturday, July 25, 2009 12:33 AM)

I beleive some of you are missing the point. The wfc -3 camera is the best visible light camera there is at 360 million miles away you can get. The problem is a comet,the size that hit Jupiter,if it hits the U.S.dead center,say Kansas.In 5 days would put up a debris cloud that would be covering the entire East Coast of the U.S. and Western Coast of Africa.In two weeks time? Fund Nasa and other space agencies,tax my beer extra 5 cents and give to them,better to live then not at all!

Brianoc1, Ohio (Sent Saturday, July 25, 2009 12:44 AM)

The black spot is a vast population of black monoliths, increasing in number at an exponential rate, shrinking Jupiter's volume and increasing its density with each passing minute.

Jeb Taback (Sent Saturday, July 25, 2009 12:47 AM)

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