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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Monday, July 20, 2009

Hawaii telescope captures image of possible comet striking Jupiter


Associated Press

Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

NASA's Infrared Telescope Facility on Mauna Kea shows a large impact on Jupiter's south polar region that was captured today. Astronomers say Jupiter has apparently been struck by an object, possibly a comet.

AP Photo/NASA/JPL

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PASADENA, Calif. � Astronomers say Jupiter has apparently been struck by an object, possibly a comet.

Images taken by NASA early Monday show a scar in the atmosphere near the south pole of the gas giant.
The images, taken by the space agency�s infrared telescope in Hawaii, come on the 15th anniversary of another comet strike.
In 1994, Jupiter was bombarded by pieces of the comet Shoemaker-Levy 9.
Scientists at NASA�s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena captured the new images after receiving a tip from an amateur astronomer the night before.