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Collision of Schoemaker‐Levy 9 fragments A, E, H, L, Q1 with Jupiter: Mid‐infrared light curves
Author(s) -
Lagage P. O.,
Galdemard Ph.,
Pantin E.,
Jouan R.,
Masse P.,
Sauvage M.,
Olofsson G.,
Huldtgren M.,
Nordh L.,
Belmonte J. A.,
Regulo C.,
Espinosa J. M. Rodriguez,
Vidal L.,
Mosser B.,
Ulla A.,
Gautier D.
Publication year - 1995
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1029/95gl01413
Subject(s) - jupiter (rocket family) , light curve , physics , infrared , astrophysics , infrared telescope , flux (metallurgy) , atmosphere (unit) , atmosphere of jupiter , intensity (physics) , astronomy , atmospheric sciences , spacecraft , planet , meteorology , jovian , optics , chemistry , organic chemistry , saturn
Light curves of the 12 µ m emission following the collision of Shoemaker‐Levy 9 fragments A, E, H, L, Q1 with Jupiter are presented. Impacts F, P2, Q2, T, U were monitored, but not detected. The observations were carried out with the Saclay CAMIRAS camera mounted on the 2.56 m Nordic Optical Telescope located at La Palma (Canary Island, Spain). Of particular interest is the light curve of the L impact (the brightest impact), where 3 different regions can be observed. A precursor flash (the debris cloud rising above the limb) is detected about 1 min 30 s after the detection from the Galileo spacecraft. Twelve minutes later, a huge infrared spot at a temperature of about 700 K appears at its peak intensity: 13 000 Jy. A new change of behaviour is observed 20 min after impact: a secondary bump appears, after which the flux decreases at a slower rate. Light curves of impacts Q1, H, E and A, up to more than one order of magnitude fainter than the L impact, are quite similar. Ballistic re‐entry of dust‐gas in the atmosphere must be considered in the interpretation of the IR spot.