Comet Siding Spring is a close call for Mars, wake up call for Earth
Friday, October 10, 2014 - 08:30
in Astronomy & Space
It was 20 years ago this past July when images of Jupiter being pummeled by a comet caught the world's attention. Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 had flown too close to Jupiter. It was captured by the giant planet's gravity and torn into a string of beads. One by one the comet fragments impacted Jupiter—leaving blemishes on its atmosphere, each several times larger than Earth in size.