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Credit & Copyright: NASA, Voyager Team
Explanation:
NASA's robot spaceprobe
Voyager 1,
took this closeup image of the surface of Jupiter's crater scarred moon
Callisto in 1979. A mysterious chain of craters is seen to extend diagonally
across the image (upper left to lower right). What could cause the craters
to line up in such a regular fashion? Scientists were at a loss to explain
this crater chain along with several other chain like features observed
on Callisto's surface. Fifteen years later, with the discovery of
Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9,
also known as the
"string of pearls" comet,
the mystery was solved. Comets whose orbits stray too close to
Jupiter are torn apart by the strong gravity.
When the individual pieces, strung
out along the orbital path of the comet hit an object like Callisto,
the sequence of impacts produces a crater chain.
For more information about the picture see the Split Comet Studies Page.
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NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings, and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris. Specific rights apply.
A service of: LHEA at NASA / GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
Based on Astronomy Picture
Of the Day
Publications with keywords: crater chain
Publications with words: crater chain
See also: