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While many people are satisfied spending nights staring at television, a more enlightened segment of the population is ever aware of a truly fascinating world just outside and above their heads. For them, the sky is continually providing never-ending awe inspiring cosmic experiences and occasionally a “once in a lifetime” celestial event. One such experience occurred recently in September 2003, when the orbits of Mars and Earth came unusually close in a celestial conjunction that hadn’t taken place in 60,000 years. For the millions upon millions of people that were curious enough to venture outside and look up, the Red Planet was shining as bright as the planet Jupiter or Sirius, the brightest star in heaven. Another amazing celestial event occurred seven years earlier in March 1996, when the previously undiscovered Comet Hyakutake appeared out of nowhere. This incredibly beautiful comet filled up an unusually large section of the sky and was discovered by amateur astronomer Yuji Hyakutake.
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But what has to be the rarest and most spectacular event occurred back in early 1994, when astronomers announced they had not only spotted an unfamiliar comet, but its orbit was on a direct course to impact the planet Jupiter. From July 16 through July 22, 1994, pieces from this disintegrating comet, designated as Comet P/Shoemaker-Levy 9 (named after the amateur astronomers who discovered it), would be colliding with the largest planet in our solar system. This would be the first collision of two solar system bodies to ever be observed in human history.
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Since this was one of those “once in a lifetime” events and our crew insisted on observing the event live, we needed an observation spot that would give us optimum viewing power. Scientists informed us the 18th or 22nd of July would be the only day’s the impact would be visible to west coast of the North American continent. After meticulous investigation, our resident super-brain Chase came up with a mountain top in southern California near Palm Springs. This particular summit is the highest point in the Santa Rosa Mountains at 8716 feet and aptly named Toro Peak. The roads were a nightmare and took most of the afternoon to reach the summit, but the view was worth it when the road ends. At the very top of Toro Peak was a building and tower for the repeater equipment housed there. Chase immediately climbed to the top. He said he could see the area below where our camp and telescope was set up on what level ground we could find. We prepared a feast and patiently waited for night to fall with hopes of seeing the greatest show on or off the planet Earth.
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As we waited with ice cold beer and tequila, Chase said that Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 consisted of at least 21 discernable fragments with diameters estimated at up to 2 kilometers. But because the planet Jupiter is so large, scientists originally believed the impact would have little or no effect to this gaseous giant and observers would see very little if any disturbance through the planets cloudy surface. The results were beyond expectations and the effects of the comet impacts on Jupiter's atmosphere astounded us as well as astronomers all over the world. The impact was not only visible, but produced huge dark spots as the comet disturbed the atmosphere. This was evidence that such a collision would be catastrophic on any planetary body.
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As amazing as this event was to observe from afar, how would you like to be at ground zero when such an object impacted Earth? It can happen and one day will. To see one example of what a small object can do one need only look at the Meteor Crater in the state of Arizona. It is the first crater to be identified as an impact crater and occurred between 20,000 to 50,000 years ago. A small asteroid about 80 feet in diameter impacted the Earth and formed the crater; the size of a three bedroom house. It instantly killed everything in a radius of 200 miles. This is the best preserved crater on Earth and measures nearly a mile in diameter. For many years, scientists had denied that there were any impact craters on Earth. The origin of this crater has been a source of controversy for many years. But the discovery of fragments of the Canyon Diablo meteorite helped prove that it was in fact an impact crater.
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Will we be hit by a Planet Killer? It’s more of a matter of when, rather than if we are impacted by rouge object large enough to destroy life on our planet. Sooner than later an object will intersect Earths orbit and strike our world the way Jupiter was impacted. What are governmental authorities doing about safe guarding us from this very real and inevitable threat? Very little. Like most ineffective bureaucratic operations, very little money or scientific investigation has been assigned to address an issue that means life or death for the people of Earth.
The effects on Jupiter illustrate just how devastating such an event can be. Hunter In The Sky strongly urges you to write to your state and federal representatives and urge them, to create funding for a project that is vital to safeguarding the planet. This would not only revive our space program and provide America with thousands of new jobs, but inspire a whole new generation to look up and see the light.
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