THE IMPACT OF COMET SHOEMAKER-LEVY-9 ON THE JOVIAN IONOSPHERE AND AURORAE

Authors
MILLER S ACHILLEOS N LAM HA DINELLI BM PRANGE R
Citation
S. Miller et al., THE IMPACT OF COMET SHOEMAKER-LEVY-9 ON THE JOVIAN IONOSPHERE AND AURORAE, Planetary and space science, 45(10), 1997, pp. 1237
Citations number
26
Journal title
Planetary and space science → ACNP
ISSN journal
00320633
Volume
45
Issue
10
Year of publication
1997
Database
ISI
SICI code
0032-0633(1997)45:10<1237:TIOCSO>2.0.ZU;2-T
Abstract
We outline the effects of a ''typical'' fragment of Comet Shoemaker-Le vy 9 on the ionosphere and aurorae of Jupiter, viewed chronologically from approach, through impact to longer term effects. The ionosphere i s found to have been a sensitive tracer of the impact events. The powe rful jovian magnetic held transmitted the effects of the collisions ac ross hemispheres. Electrodynamical processes were particularly importa nt around the time of fragment impact, along with shock heating of the ionosphere. Chemical reactions not usual in the jovian upper atmosphe re prayed a key role in diminishing ionospheric and auroral emission i ntensities. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.