Shoemaker Levy 9: Jupiter's Apocalyptic Comet

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[MrTexasDan]

I set up my 8" telescope in the back yard on that first night. The impacts were on the far side, but I watched as the rotation of Jupiter brought the impact scars into view. Sciencegasm indeed.

You know, when you get older you start maintaining a mental list of the cool things you have done or seen in this life. For me, seeing SL-9 slamming into Jupiter real time is pretty high on that list.

[CeeDeeHamm]

I teared up hearing about Eugene and Caroline and his final resting place. Honestly pretty awesome to be buried amongst the stars.

[TheLoneTerran]

I've been lucky enough to see Hale-Bop and this comet. Also, very glad Jupiter is out there, hoovering up lots of debris that might kill us instead.

[samanthar]

"Now you've been tucked in
For eternal earthrise and wonder
A sailor through aeons
Story unheard, howling at the earth
Yours is the whole graveyard of heavens
A ship that sailed home"
Shoemaker-Nightwish

[emmettgeraghty]

I love these “Astrographics” segments. They are some of my favorites from Simon.

[_ZerGrvity_]

Man, Eugene Shoemaker has the most badass resting place in the entire human existence.

[kirke]

My cousin was on that Hubble team (data processor) during the impact. You can see his face in the doorway of the famous (non-cropped version of the) picture of the Hubble team's reaction.

[Aaron-from-BroTrio]

I actually met David Levy a few times the year the comet hit! He came to visit our elementary school's astronomy club, and we took a field trip to his house once. I remember him being a pretty cool guy, and he had an awesome telescope in his back yard!

I even got to see part of the comet hit using the huge telescope at the Tucson observatory for my birthday that year! It wasn't as good as the pictures, but you could clearly see it happening.

[doclewis]

Rest in peace, Mr. and Mrs. Shoemaker. Thank you for all of your hard & valuable work to save the whole planet!

[ignitionfrn]

1:25 - Chapter 1 - A line in space
4:45 - Chapter 2 - Destination, Jupiter
8:40 - Mid roll ads
10:15 - Chapter 3 - Days of impact
13:35 - Chapter 4 - Sky falls
17:50 - Chapter 5 - Doomsday defense
- Chapter 6 -

[summeronio]

Thanks Jupiter, for taking the hit on that one.

[mxfe]

Really appreciate Simon thinking of us Americuns and using non metric units to describe the size of things. Describing something as "bigger than long Island" really paints a picture

[stephendoherty]

Comet : here I come to deliver death
Jupiter : Bring it on, puny rocks, I can take it.

[tommythetoe]

He was a candidate to go to the moon. Could not pass physical. He did train the
astronauts I believe. At least he finally made it.

[carschmn]

Talk about a great second act for Carolyn Shoemaker: comet hunter.

[jayjaynella]

My friend and I saw the Shoemakers when they came to Canberra Australien after the comet strike, in 1996 I think. We got to meet them and chat with them afterwards. A very sad day when Eugene was taken from us, out in the middle of nowhere. The biography of them by David Levy is tops.

[Resileaf]

Incredible to think that we caught this once-in-a-timeline event at the exact right time in history to watch it happen in real time and gain so much vital information from it.

[patriciaposthumus]

I love this type of biographics on different space stuff. Do more please.

[rarebird_]

I remember I was 11 and I was soooo excited my mother let me stay up late to watch the SL9 impact coverage LIVE on the news. Galileo was a wonderful era, as was the 90s 🥰

[kyleleeson]

I remember being able to go to the local community college and use their Observatory during this. Thank you for bringing back some fond memories.