Shoemaker-Levy 9 Impact
High-resolution infrared images of the Shoemaker-Levy 9 impact with
Jupiter may be viewed here. These images come from the University of
Hawaii's 2.2-meter telescope, and were obtained with a new 1024x1024
infrared camera. Images from July 20 and July 21, 1994 (UT) (July 19
and 20 HST) are available.
All images were taken through a filter centered at 2.3 microns. This filter
transmits infrared light in the approximate wavelength range 2.2-2.4 microns,
where methane absorption in Jupiter's atmosphere makes Jupiter appear to be
Image of Jupiter taken at 20:13 on July 19 HST (06:13 July 20 UT), a 5
second exposure, which is the first exposure made of Jupiter with the
new 1024x1024 IR camera - six or possibly seven impact sites can be
seen. The seeing was relatively poor (just under 1 arcsecond).
Image of Jupiter taken at 22:03 on July 19 HST (08:03 July 20 UT),
a 20 second exposure. The seeing was relatively poor (just under 1
Impact plume from fragment R, taken at 21 Jul 05:37:12 UT. Tip-tilt
guiding provided image stabilization. Io was used as the guide
Impact plume in a difference image, made by subtracting an image taken at
05:35:40 from the image shown above. Tip-tilt guiding provided image
stabilization. Io was used as the guide "star."
An image taken approximately 80 minutes after fragment R impact (21
Jul 06:50:03 UT). Io is the bright object in the upper left. This
image has better resolution, because Io (the guide "star") was closer
to Jupiter when this image was made. It is one of the highest
resolution ground-based images of Jupiter taken during the comet
All images were obtained by K. Hodapp, J. Hora, K. Jim, and D. Jewitt.
Image processing was performed by R. Wainscoat and L. Cowie.
The 1024x1024 HgCdTe array used in the infrared camera was developed by
Rockwell International Science Center.
For permission to reproduce these images from the UH 2.2-meter telescope
in publications, to request transparencies of these images for
publication, or to request higher resolution digital images for
publication, please contact:
Dr. Richard J. Wainscoat
Institute for Astronomy
2680 Woodlawn Drive
Honolulu, HI 96822