INTERPRETATION OF THE LIGHTCURVES OBTAINED DURING COMET SHOEMAKER-LEVY 9S IMPACT

Citation
Ve. Fortov et al., INTERPRETATION OF THE LIGHTCURVES OBTAINED DURING COMET SHOEMAKER-LEVY 9S IMPACT, Icarus, 124(2), 1996, pp. 645-650
Citations number
23
Language
INGLESE
art.tipo
Article
Categorie Soggetti
Astronomy & Astrophysics
Journal title
IcarusACNP
ISSN journal
0019-1035
Volume
124
Issue
2
Year of publication
1996
Pages
645 - 650
Database
ISI
SICI code
0019-1035(1996)124:2<645:IOTLOD>2.0.ZU;2-6
Abstract
Optical observations of Jupiter obtained during the encounter with Com et Shoemaker-Levy 9 are analyzed. The time dependences of the intensit y of visible and infrared radiation caused by the impact were obtained during direct optical observations of Jupiter made by the Galileo spa cecraft. Subsequent ground-based observations near Jupiter's limb regi stered a shining structure with peculiar optical properties. Typically , the impact of cometary fragments produced three flash-like peaks on the lightcurve as seen from Earth. An explosive model of energy releas e as the cometary fragments slow in the jovian atmosphere is shown to adequately explain the data obtained. (C) 1996 Academic Press, Inc.