The Q1 impact flash approaches maximum light on the southeast (lower left) limb of Jupiter. This exposure, taken at 20:23 UT on the 20th of July, shows several pre-existing impact sites in addition to the rapidly brightening flash from the Q1 fragment. Note the crescent-shaped ejecta features surrounding the pre-existing spots. A filter centered on the 1.7 micron absorption feature of methane darkens the jovian cloud deck and highlights the impact features, which shine by reflected sunlight at this wavelength. This was the last and brightest of at least four distinct Q fragment events seen by the Calar Alto team.
Image taken with the MAGIC infrared camera on the 3.5 meter telescope on Calar Alto.
Picture Credits:
Tom Herbst, Max-Planck-Institut fuer Astronomie, Heidelberg, Doug Hamilton, Max-Planck-Institut fuer Kernphysik, Heidelberg, Hermann Boehnhardt, Universitaets-Sternewarte, Muenchen, and Jose Luis Ortiz Moreno, Instituto de Astrofisica de Andalucia, Granada.
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