AURORAL SIGNATURE OF COMET SHOEMAKER-LEVY-9 IN THE JOVIAN MAGNETOSPHERE

The electrodynamic interaction of the dust and gas comae of comet Shoe maker-Levy 9 with the jovian magnetosphere was unique and different fr om the atmospheric effects. Early theoretical predictions of auroral-t ype processes on the comet magnetic field line and advanced modeling o f the time-varying morphology of these lines allowed dedicated observa tions with the Hubble Space Telescope Wide Field Planetary Camera 2 an d resulted in the detection of a bright auroral spot, In that respect, this observation of the surface signature of an externally triggered auroral process can be considered as a ''magnetospheric active experim ent'' on Jupiter.