# Something slams into Jupiter. Again **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [March 30, 2016, 11:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/something-slams-into-jupiter-again/750623 "2016-03-30T11:34:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2016, 11:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/something-slams-into-jupiter-again/750623/1 "2016-03-30T11:34:23Z")
Boy, first Shoemaker-Levy hits Jupiter in a string of collisions back in 1994, and now this: > **[CAUGHT ON VIDEO: Something Just Slammed Into Jupiter](https://www.huffpost.com/entry/asteroid-or-comet-hits-jupiter_n_56fb1ea4e4b0a06d5803fe77)** > > WOW If Jupiter is getting hit every 20 years or so by space debris, it’s a clear sign that this is a dangerous cosmic neighborhood. I’m packing up and moving somewhere were it’s _safe_. > **[Comet Shoemaker–Levy 9](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comet_Shoemaker%E2%80%93Levy_9)** > > Comet Shoemaker–Levy 9 (formally designated D/1993 F2) broke apart in July 1992 and collided with Jupiter in July 1994, providing the first direct observation of an extraterrestrial collision of Solar System objects. This generated a large amount of coverage in the popular media, and the comet was closely observed by astronomers worldwide. The collision provided new information about Jupiter and highlighted its possible role in reducing space debris in the inner Solar System. > The comet was dis... ---
**Author:** ![The\_Stainless\_Steel\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_stainless_steel_rat/32/5727_2.png) [@The\_Stainless\_Steel\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Stainless_Steel_Rat)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2016, 12:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/something-slams-into-jupiter-again/750623/2 "2016-03-30T12:10:14Z")
Actually, be happy that big ol’ Jupiter is sucking up all those bits and pieces in it’s gravity well, which leaves less debris floating around that could slam into us. Hey, physics happens. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2016, 12:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/something-slams-into-jupiter-again/750623/3 "2016-03-30T12:19:59Z")
> [@The\_Stainless\_Steel\_Rat](#): > > Actually, be happy that big ol’ Jupiter is sucking up all those bits and pieces in it’s gravity well, which leaves less debris floating around that could slam into us. > > Hey, physics happens. It’s not as if Jupiter is a big Dyson Vacuum pulling in all the detritus of the Solar system – it’s just a bigger target. That it can get hit twice in just over twenty years is a measure of how much junk is floating around out there. Me, I’ve already tried to contact a Vogon ship, and I’m wearing my towel. ---
**Author:** ![Don\_t\_Panic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/don_t_panic/32/398_2.png) [@Don\_t\_Panic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Don_t_Panic)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2016, 12:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/something-slams-into-jupiter-again/750623/4 "2016-03-30T12:29:22Z")
* * * > [@CalMeacham](#): > > If Jupiter is getting hit every 20 years or so by space debris […] Actually, according to your link: > [@](#): > > Sky and Telescope reported that the latest impact on Jupiter was the fourth of its kind over the last decade. And the [link](http://www.skyandtelescope.com/astronomy-news/observing-news/another-impact-on-jupiter-032920161/) from your link: > [@](#): > > Counting the historic multiple-hit crash of Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 in July 1994, that’s a grand total of six impacts on Jupiter in the past 22 years. It seems that the big guy is getting smacked around quite a bit. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2016, 12:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/something-slams-into-jupiter-again/750623/5 "2016-03-30T12:31:25Z")
> [@Martian Bigfoot](#): > > * * * > > Actually, according to your link: > > And the [link](http://www.skyandtelescope.com/astronomy-news/observing-news/another-impact-on-jupiter-032920161/) from your link: > > It seems that the big guy is getting smacked around quite a bit. Great. I’m sending out more signals to the Vogons, and studying their poetry. And, despite the warning on my Guide, I’m going to start panicking. ---
**Author:** ![Gorsnak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gorsnak/32/7587_2.png) [@Gorsnak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gorsnak)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2016, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/something-slams-into-jupiter-again/750623/6 "2016-03-30T13:28:35Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > It’s not as if Jupiter is a big Dyson Vacuum pulling in all the detritus of the Solar system Actually, it kinda is. A really big M2 to plug into F=(M1+M2)/D^2 and all. Let D get a little too small and you’re in trouble. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2016, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/something-slams-into-jupiter-again/750623/7 "2016-03-30T13:42:21Z")
> [@Gorsnak](#): > > Actually, it kinda is. A really big M2 to plug into F=(M1+M2)/D^2 and all. Let D get a little too small and you’re in trouble. That’s true, but that effectively increases its impact cross-section more than anything else. Its effect in yanking debris away from elsewhere (and particularly in making it hit itself) isn’t all that big. ---
**Author:** ![G0sp3l](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c68b51/32.png) [@G0sp3l](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/G0sp3l)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2016, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/something-slams-into-jupiter-again/750623/8 "2016-03-30T15:20:01Z")
You should cram a fish into your ear. To get a head start on things. And maybe try falling down as missing the ground. post pics ---
**Author:** ![BetsQ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/fbc32d/32.png) [@BetsQ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BetsQ)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2016, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/something-slams-into-jupiter-again/750623/9 "2016-03-30T19:42:26Z")
> [@G0sp3l](#): > > You should cram a fish into your ear. To get a head start on things. And maybe try falling down as missing the ground. > > post pics I understand that having a few beers prior to boarding is also traditional. ---
**Author:** ![stillownedbysetters](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/41988e/32.png) [@stillownedbysetters](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stillownedbysetters)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2016, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/something-slams-into-jupiter-again/750623/10 "2016-03-30T19:55:50Z")
I’m grounding Jupiter. He is spending far too much of his time in mosh pits. ---
**Author:** ![muldoonthief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldoonthief/32/3188_2.png) [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2016, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/something-slams-into-jupiter-again/750623/11 "2016-03-30T20:11:04Z")
> [@Gorsnak](#): > > Actually, it kinda is. A really big M2 to plug into F=(M1+M2)/D^2 and all. Let D get a little too small and you’re in trouble. Plus? ---
**Author:** ![Enola\_Straight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dec6dc/32.png) [@Enola\_Straight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enola_Straight)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2016, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/something-slams-into-jupiter-again/750623/12 "2016-03-30T22:28:41Z")
Are there any pics of “atmosphere zero” where the impact has blackened the cloud layers? ---
**Author:** ![Scumpup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce73a5/32.png) [@Scumpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scumpup)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2016, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/something-slams-into-jupiter-again/750623/13 "2016-03-30T22:30:52Z")
Fuck Jupiter.