This series of six images was obtained with the TIMMI far-infrared instrument at the ESO 3.6-metre telescopes on July 16, 1994, between 20:23 UT and 21:26 UT (22:23 to 23:26 CEST). It shows the plume rising above the site of the impact of fragment A of comet Shoemaker-Levy 9. The predicted impact time was 20:00 UT, or 23 minutes before the first image was obtained.
These images document an absolutely unexpected, very rapid cool-down of the impact region. The filter was N2 at 9.4 to 11 micron. The scale is 0.6 arcsec per pixel.
Please note that the data are the property of the two observing teams. The observers were: Benoit Mosser (DESPA/Meudon, France), Tim Livengood (National Research Council/ NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland, USA) and Ulli Kaeufl (ESO).
This series together form ESO PR Photo SL9J/94-10 which accompanies the ESO SL-9/Jupiter Information Package. It may be reproduced, if credit is given to the European Southern Observatory.
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