Question:
The Shoemaker-Levy comet is scheduled to collide with Jupiter
sometime between the dates of July 16-22. What are the effects of this
collision expected to be on the planets closest to Jupiter, on our atmosphere
and on the earth ?
Replies:
As far as I can tell from what I've read, no effect at all. Whatever
effects there are will be confined to Jupiter, and even these are likely to be
slight. Jupiter is an immense planet; I have read the collision being likened to
"spitballs hitting the Queen Mary". Jupiter will easily be able to absorb the en ormous energies
delivered by the comet fragments.
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