NOTE: Click on the image to view it at its highest resolution.
An infrared image of Jupiter at a wavelength of 2.3 microns,
constructed in a computer from 5 individual images taken from Palomar
Mountain on July 23rd and 24th, 1994, showing the scars left by the
multiple impacts of Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9. The picture shows the
planet as it would appear to an observer located above 45 S, 60 W.
The prominent impact sites E, H, Q, G, and L (from left to right)
are visible at 44 S, surrounding the bright South Polar Hood. The
smaller spot between the Q and G impact sites is due to the R impact,
which was observed directly from Palomar. The Polar Hood and the
impact sites both appear bright in this image because they are
composed of particulate clouds that are high above an opaque layer of
gaseous methane, which obscures the underlying cloud deck at this
wavelength. The fainter feature at 20 S, near the western limb of the
planet, is the famous Great Red Spot.
Images, Images, Images
