21 July 2009

All eyes turn to Murrumbateman astronomy,

| johnboy
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Murrumbateman’s Anthony Wesley has set the world’s science media alight by capturing the impact of an asteroid into mighty Jupiter.

From The Age’s report:

    Anthony Wesley, 44, a computer programmer from Murrumbateman, a village north of Canberra, made the discovery about 1am yesterday using his backyard 14.5-inch reflecting telescope.

    The impact would have occurred no more than two days earlier and will only be visible for another few days.

    Within hours, his images had spread across the internet on science websites.

    NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory confirmed the discovery at 9pm yesterday using its large infrared telescope at the summit of Mauna Kea in Hawaii.

    The only other time astronomers have discovered evidence of a space object having hit Jupiter was when the Shoemaker-Levy 9 comet collided with the giant planet in July, 1994.

The Canberra based Samba team are currently hosting the astronomical report as interest has overwhelmed Anthony’s web resources.

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Holden Caulfield1:54 pm 22 Jul 09

Pretty cool story! I love the pic of Wesley with his telescope. Looks appropriately amateur and makeshift, haha, although obviously his gear is very damn good.

Woody Mann-Caruso1:45 pm 22 Jul 09

MrPC said :

“Planet does its job” isn’t exactly a headline in my book anymore.

Please, feel free to post your ‘as it happened’ pictures of Earth-sized planetary impacts. I’m sure you’ve got so many they’re wasting valuable sleeping space in your mother’s basement.

Peewee Slasher12:55 pm 22 Jul 09

I looked at a solar eclipse when I was a kid.

Peewee Slasher12:54 pm 22 Jul 09

… .. …. .. ….. …. ……. .. .. ….. … …. .

I’m so jealous, have spent countless hours over the years hoping to see something like this.

Great work Mr Wesley, you lucky lucky bastard 😀

junkett said :

… what is the best to see the solar eclipse tomorrow (22/9)?

Not in Australia, unfortunately.

There’s a map of the path, and lots of other info here.

Magnificent picture Anthony – well done!

On a soughta related subject, what is the best to see the solar eclipse tomorrow (22/9)?

Three cheers for science, astronomy and passion.

Congrats Anthony.

http://jupiter.samba.org/AnthonyWesley.jpg

MrPC said :

“Planet does its job” isn’t exactly a headline in my book anymore.

Neither is “Predatory animal attacks something” but we sure kick up a stink when a shark eats something/someone.

Gas Giants primary function in a solar system is to use their massive gravity wells to suck in asteroids and other space junk, either into the planet, or at least out of the inner solar system (hence there’s a ring of asteroids in a roughly circular orbit between Mars and Jupiter).

“Planet does its job” isn’t exactly a headline in my book anymore.

timgee2007 said :

Er…call me dumb, but what’s hitting what in that picture?

I think that little black spot at the top (southern side of Jupiter, but the image is upside down) is the impact mark from whatever hit the planet.
The impact area is the size of Earth…

🙂

I think….

Bloody legend.

Why exactly do we need to spend billions on space research and rockets etc? This bloke does it in his backyard with a simple bit of equipment…..

Er…call me dumb, but what’s hitting what in that picture?

Amazing story, and a real coup for Amateur Astronomy. Congrats to Anthony!

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