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Video captures object crashing into Jupiter

The videos taken March 17 show a small flash on the right side of the planet when the object impacts the gas giant’s clouds.

<p>(Credit: NASA)</p>

Two amateur astronomers captured video of something crashing into Jupiter – perhaps a comet or an asteroid.

The videos taken March 17 show a small flash on the right side of the planet when the object impacts the gas giant’s clouds.

John McKeon was recording the transit of Jupiter's moons Io and Ganymede from Swords, Ireland, when he spotted the event. He used an 11-inch Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope and his ASI120mm camera. He posted the video on YouTube.

"The original purpose of the imaging session was to get this time-lapse, with a happy coincidence of the impact in the second, last capture of the night," McKeon wrote.

Gerrit Kernbauer of Modling, Austria, also recorded video of the event using a Skywatcher Newton 200/1000 Telescope. Here’s a look at his video.

Astronomers say without amateur sky watchers recording their hobby -- and without social media to spread their discoveries -- these events might never be seen by the world.

Back in 1994, the Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 crashed into Jupiter, leaving visible, dark clouds.


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