What Hit Jupiter

Page 1 of 1 [ 16 posts ]

Joined: 23 Mar 2008
Age: 67
Gender: Male
Posts: 5,647

22 Jul 2009, 2:05 pm

Am I the only one alarmed at the idea that something THE SIZE OF THE EARTH impacted another body in our solar system, and not one single professional astronomer, nor anyone in any terrestrial space organization would even be aware of it, if an amateur hadn't seen it by accident!?

The fact that we weren't aware of this object's approach months or even years ago is very disturbing to me. In cosmic terms, Jupiter's not that far away. We could easily be floating in a new asteroid field right now (dead). The hell with all the pie-in-the-sky theories about how we could divert or destroy a giant rock or comet before it hit us. Do do that, we'd have to know it was coming first, and clearly we aren't paying much attention.

makuranososhi
Veteran
Veteran

Joined: 12 May 2008
Age: 49
Gender: Male
Posts: 5,805
Location: Banned by Alex

22 Jul 2009, 2:10 pm

Not the size of Earth; the remaining scar is the size of the planet Earth... the actual size of the object will likely not be known. Like with Meteor Crater in Arizona, the size of the impact scar will be much larger than the size of the impacting object.

M.

_________________
My thanks to all the wonderful members here; I will miss the opportunity to continue to learn and work with you.

For those who seek an alternative, it is coming.

So long, and thanks for all the fish!

ruveyn
Veteran
Veteran

Joined: 21 Sep 2008
Age: 89
Gender: Male
Posts: 31,502
Location: New Jersey

22 Jul 2009, 3:07 pm

An asteroid or comet hit Jupiter. One of the services that the large planet renders unto us is to attract big rocks before they cross our orbit.

ruveyn

RainSong
Veteran
Veteran

Joined: 1 May 2006
Age: 35
Gender: Female
Posts: 4,306
Location: Ohio

22 Jul 2009, 3:30 pm

I saw the article pop up yesterday on the news and thought it was kind of cool. It would suck to be Jupiter, but other than that, cool.

However, according to AP:

Quote:

Since scientists did not see the actual collision, they do not know the size and mass of the object that hit. However, based on the size of the gash, whatever slammed into Jupiter was "much, much smaller" than Earth, said Fletcher of the Jet Propulsion Lab.

And in line with ruveyn's comment:

Quote:

Dr. Marchis said the shape of the debris splash as revealed in the Keck images suggested that whatever hit Jupiter might have been pulled apart by tidal forces from the planet’s huge gravity before it hit. In an e-mail message, he said humans should be thankful for Jupiter.

“The solar system would have been a very dangerous place if we did not have Jupiter,” he wrote. “We should thank our giant planet for suffering for us. Its strong gravitational field is acting like a shield protecting us from comets coming from the outer part of the solar system.”

_________________
"Nothing worth having is easy."

Three years!

sartresue
Veteran
Veteran

Joined: 18 Dec 2007
Age: 71
Gender: Female
Posts: 6,313
Location: The Castle of Shock and Awe-tism

22 Jul 2009, 3:34 pm

By Jupiter topic

That must have hurt.

_________________
Radiant Aspergian
Awe-Tistic Whirlwind

Phuture Phounder of the Philosophy Phactory

NOT a believer of Mystic Woo-Woo

TitusLucretiusCarus
Veteran
Veteran

Joined: 16 Jan 2009
Age: 40
Gender: Male
Posts: 518

22 Jul 2009, 3:48 pm

yeah, this is why we're here, Jupiter's been doing us favours like this for a couple billion years

OddFinn
Veteran
Veteran

Joined: 27 Jun 2009
Age: 59
Gender: Male
Posts: 1,276
Location: Finland

22 Jul 2009, 4:14 pm

TitusLucretiusCarus wrote:

yeah, this is why we're here, Jupiter's been doing us favours like this for a couple billion years

It could have been the second sun.

_________________
Any connection between your reality and mine is purely coincidental.

ViperaAspis
Veteran
Veteran

Joined: 26 Apr 2009
Age: 57
Gender: Male
Posts: 1,083
Location: Portland, OR

22 Jul 2009, 4:45 pm

The article I read said if it had hit Earth, it would have wiped out something the size of Wyoming. Meh. I really don't care for Wyoming anyway. Too rectangular.

OddFinn wrote:

TitusLucretiusCarus wrote:

yeah, this is why we're here, Jupiter's been doing us favours like this for a couple billion years

It could have been the second sun.

And it still will be if the Mysterious Black Monoliths have their way.
^(Sci-fi movie reference. Name the movie for 10 bonus points)

_________________
Who am I? This guy! http://www.wrongplanet.net/postt97863.html

southwestforests
Veteran
Veteran

Joined: 18 Jul 2009
Age: 63
Gender: Male
Posts: 1,138
Location: A little ways south of the river

22 Jul 2009, 6:04 pm

ViperaAspis wrote:

And it still will be if the Mysterious Black Monoliths have their way.
^(Sci-fi movie reference. Name the movie for 10 bonus points)

Either 2001 or 2010 or both.

_________________
"Every time you don't follow your inner guidance,
you feel a loss of energy, loss of power, a sense of spiritual deadness."
- Shakti Gawain

Ambivalence
Veteran
Veteran

Joined: 8 Nov 2008
Age: 48
Gender: Male
Posts: 3,613
Location: Peterlee (for Industry)

22 Jul 2009, 6:59 pm

Poor Jupiter isn't big enough, by a long way, even to make a brown dorf. Those monoliths must be magical. :wink:

_________________
No one has gone missing or died.

The year is still young.

ViperaAspis
Veteran
Veteran

Joined: 26 Apr 2009
Age: 57
Gender: Male
Posts: 1,083
Location: Portland, OR

22 Jul 2009, 7:24 pm

southwestforests wrote:

ViperaAspis wrote:

And it still will be if the Mysterious Black Monoliths have their way.
^(Sci-fi movie reference. Name the movie for 10 bonus points)

Either 2001 or 2010 or both.

Oh, very nice. But I expected nothing less from a fellow-cat-avatar. You now have 27 out of a possible 300 points! (the other 17 were for the cat avatar...)

_________________
Who am I? This guy! http://www.wrongplanet.net/postt97863.html

Roxas_XIII
Veteran
Veteran

Joined: 8 Jan 2007
Age: 35
Gender: Male
Posts: 3,217
Location: Laramie, WY

22 Jul 2009, 9:04 pm

ViperaAspis wrote:

The article I read said if it had hit Earth, it would have wiped out something the size of Wyoming. Meh. I really don't care for Wyoming anyway. Too rectangular.

OddFinn wrote:

TitusLucretiusCarus wrote:

yeah, this is why we're here, Jupiter's been doing us favours like this for a couple billion years

It could have been the second sun.

And it still will be if the Mysterious Black Monoliths have their way.
^(Sci-fi movie reference. Name the movie for 10 bonus points)

Um, EXCUSE ME!! ! I live in Wyoming!! !

_________________
"Yeah, so this one time, I tried playing poker with tarot cards... got a full house, and about four people died." ~ Unknown comedian

Happy New Year from WP's resident fortune-teller! May the cards be ever in your favor.

ViperaAspis
Veteran
Veteran

Joined: 26 Apr 2009
Age: 57
Gender: Male
Posts: 1,083
Location: Portland, OR

22 Jul 2009, 9:14 pm

Roxas_XIII wrote:

ViperaAspis wrote:

The article I read said if it had hit Earth, it would have wiped out something the size of Wyoming. Meh. I really don't care for Wyoming anyway. Too rectangular.

Um, EXCUSE ME!! ! I live in Wyoming!! !

Well, all the MORE reason to... er... no wait! I mean I think the article said Montana! Yes, Montana. Never cared much for states that have half of a human head sticking out of 'em anyway...

_________________
Who am I? This guy! http://www.wrongplanet.net/postt97863.html

TitusLucretiusCarus
Veteran
Veteran

Joined: 16 Jan 2009
Age: 40
Gender: Male
Posts: 518

23 Jul 2009, 12:13 am

@ viperaspis - Stanley Kubrick's 2001 A Space Odyssey, which strangely enough was on TV two days ago. Weird.

(Complete and utter deadpan voice) Dave. Stop Dave. I'm scared. Stop.

man that 'pooter is freaky!

Roxas_XIII
Veteran
Veteran

Joined: 8 Jan 2007
Age: 35
Gender: Male
Posts: 3,217
Location: Laramie, WY

23 Jul 2009, 12:58 am

ViperaAspis wrote:

Roxas_XIII wrote:

ViperaAspis wrote:

The article I read said if it had hit Earth, it would have wiped out something the size of Wyoming. Meh. I really don't care for Wyoming anyway. Too rectangular.

Um, EXCUSE ME!! ! I live in Wyoming!! !

Well, all the MORE reason to... er... no wait! I mean I think the article said Montana! Yes, Montana. Never cared much for states that have half of a human head sticking out of 'em anyway...

Don't make me go Lelouch Vi Britannia on your sorry ass... :roll:

ViperaAspis
Veteran
Veteran

Joined: 26 Apr 2009
Age: 57
Gender: Male
Posts: 1,083
Location: Portland, OR

23 Jul 2009, 1:19 am

Roxas_XIII wrote:

Don't make me go Lelouch Vi Britannia on your sorry ass... :roll:

LOL! Nice reference!

Isn't it interesting, the parallels between "Zero" and Guy Fawkes? Do you think that was intentional or just coincidence? Hey, is that WHY you put that in your signature? That only just clicked just now...

Wait, I'm going to throw this whole thread off topic. PM me if you feel like answering, would ya?

-- Vip

_________________
Who am I? This guy! http://www.wrongplanet.net/postt97863.html

Page 1 of 1 [ 16 posts ]

Jump to:

What Hit Jupiter Post Reply New Topic

What Hit Jupiter