Comments on: Mysterious Smash on Jupiter Leaves an Earth-Sized Scar

By: Maurice Lauber

Maurice Lauber — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 02:42:51 +0000

I am constantly amazed at how far the intelligent animal on this insignificant planet has come. In my 78 years I have seen so much discovery that it is mind boggling. I am thankful for magazines like Discover for making me aware of all these new discoveries in a language I can undertstand.

By: chris

chris — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 05:08:26 +0000

I suppose if it is surprising that we didn’t see this coming then perhaps it is surprising we saw shoemaker-levy 9 at all?

As I recall some of the marks left by shoemaker-levy 9 were Earth sized.

By: jwep

jwep — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 03:43:32 +0000

We have nothing to fear until Bruce Willis dies. Until then, we can always send a team of drillers and astronauts up to detonate a *nucular* weapon inside any would be dinosaur killers.

By: Jay Fox

Jay Fox — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 20:30:21 +0000

Troublesome is the fact that no one saw this coming, as they did with Shoemaker-Levy. So the question is, is this a random event, or were there “companion objects” that missed the planet. Or will miss it. And if so, what might their trajectory be? How big an object leaves a scar on Jupiter as big as earth? Smaller than that, for sure, but how much smaller? Could we see that coming from here?

Just askin’.

By: dolores doolittle

dolores doolittle — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 20:08:58 +0000

All the weird things going on out there that we Don’t notice, too – fascinating.

Watching the Moon Landing again on Monday was amazing – as Armstrong dipped a toe off the ladder and commented (roughly), “Seems sort of powdery – I’m going to jump now.” Incredible courage – he could have just kept sinking, or something could have grabbed his foot or…

There must be other inhabited planets – I’d be quite happy if we didn’t discover them till I’ve departed altogether though.

By: Kinda scared

Kinda scared — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 10:39:13 +0000

Im in a state of fear over this.
It really wasn’t long ago I was hearing of shoemaker leve9 smash into Jupiter. That does not seem like unlikely odds were in play there, and im aware the planet Jupiter functions as a sort of solar system shield/vacume.

Its just really humbling I guess….scorch marks the size of our planet and al.

By: torres

torres — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 00:40:35 +0000

Just goes to show that we all can contribute to science today. Good lookin out.

By: Robin

Robin — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 23:53:49 +0000

…and imagine if there was life on Jupiter. It would all be wiped out now.

By: robot makes music

robot makes music — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 19:34:32 +0000

Which just goes to reinforce the knowledge that it’s only a matter of time before something large hits us again.

Hopefully it’ll be a long ways off.