
Amateur astronomers have made several discoveries about collisions in space:
- Planetary collisions An amateur astronomer noticed a social media post about a collision between two icy giant planets. The collision occurred in a distant space system 1,800 light years away from Earth.
- Cosmic crashes NASA volunteer Arttu Sainio noticed the star Asassn-21qj brightening, which may have been caused by colliding planets. Astronomers discovered a glowing cloud of dust from a massive planetary pile-up.
- Collisions with Jupiter Amateur astronomers have witnessed many collisions with Jupiter, the solar system’s fifth planet. In 1994, a comet hit Jupiter with such force that it left a visible debris field. In 2009, astronomers witnessed another massive impact. In 2023, an amateur astronomer in Japan captured a video of a super-bright comet exploding as it collided with Jupiter.
Planets in our solar system don’t collide because they have different elliptical orbits and speeds. However, planets and moons in our solar system did experience many large impacts early in its history. These collisions stopped about 3.9 billion years ago
Planets form from collisions between asteroids and proto-planets. Sometimes the colliding bodies are destroyed, but sometimes they stick together to form larger planets.
Some examples of planetary collisions include:
- Earth and Theia: Scientists believe that a Mars-sized object called Theia collided with Earth, creating the moon.
- Uranus: Uranus may rotate on its side because of a planetary collision.
- Earth and a smaller body: An Earth-sized planet was hit by a smaller body at a speed of 10 kilometers per second, about 200,000 years ago.
The giant-impact hypothesis, also known as the Big Splash or the Theia Impact, suggests that a Mars-sized planet called Theia collided with Earth about 4.5 billion years ago. The collision created the moon. Some of Theia’s debris may have survived in Earth’s mantle.
The chances of a planet colliding with Earth are very small. However, smaller celestial bodies, like asteroids and comets, have collided with Earth.
Planetary collisions are a fundamental part of the evolution of terrestrial planets. Collisions can:
- Form planets Planets form from collisions between asteroids and proto-planets. Sometimes the colliding bodies are ground to dust, and sometimes they stick together to form larger planets.
- Create moons The moon is thought to have been created when a Mars-sized object called Theia smashed into Earth.
Here are some other things that can happen during a planetary collision:
- Gas planets: If two gas giants collide head-on, they will destroy each other. However, if the collision happens at an angle, there is a 50-50 chance of survival.
- Dust particles: Dust particles can crash into one another and clump together.
Cosmic crashes are collisions that happen in solar systems. They can involve two galaxies colliding, which can cause new stars to form.
Cosmic crashes can also involve:
- Two stars Scientists have observed two stars similar to our sun crash into each other. This created a gamma-ray burst, which allowed scientists to measure the size of the universe and how quickly it’s expanding.
- Two ice giant exoplanets An international team of astronomers observed two ice giant exoplanets collide around a sun-like star. This caused a burst of light and dust, which could lead to new moons forming around a new planet.
Cosmic crashes happen frequently. As detector sensitivity improves, scientists expect to detect these events almost daily.
Some scientists think that cosmic crashes could have:
- Created Earth’s moon
- Tilted Uranus on its side
- Set Venus spinning backward
- Sheared the crust off Mercury
Jupiter has experienced many collisions due to its strong gravitational pull and proximity to the main asteroid belt. The most notable collision occurred in 1994 when Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 (SL9) collided with Jupiter. The comet had broken apart in July 1992. The impact created dark scars in Jupiter’s atmosphere and superheated plumes in its stratosphere. The lesions were visible to astronomers for months.
The collision was the first direct observation of an extraterrestrial collision of Solar System objects. The comet was originally about 0.9 to 1.2 miles (1.5 to 2 kilometers) wide. If a similar-sized object were to hit Earth, it would be devastating.
Jupiter often protects Earth and the other inner planets by deflecting comets and asteroids. However, sometimes it sends objects on a collision course straight toward the inner planets
In 2023, there were multiple collisions with Jupiter:
- August 28, 2023: An amateur astronomer in Japan noticed a bright flash on Jupiter. The flash was comparable to the 1908 Tunguska explosion in Siberia.
- August 29, 2023: Astronomers in Japan spotted a bright impact on Jupiter. The impact was observed at 1:45 a.m. Japan Standard Time.
- September 16, 2023: There was a flash on Jupiter.
Jupiter also reached opposition on November 3, 2023. At this time, the Sun, Earth, and Jupiter were in a straight line. (Full article source google)
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