JUPITER IMPACT! Amateur astronomers Anthony Wesley of Australia and Christopher Go of the Philippines have independently observed an impact event on Jupiter. The strike occurred at 20:31 UT on June 3rd and produced a bright flash of light in the giant planet's cloudtops:
The nature of the impactor is presently unknown. It might have been an asteroid or a comet. In either case, a dark and cindery debris field is expected to develop around the impact point; that's what has happened in the aftermath of previous Jupiter impacts. Professional and amateur astronomers are encouraged to monitor Jupiter in the hours ahead, and stay tuned for updates. Apparently it might have been this or that. It may have come from somewhere. It might have been made of who knows what. It may have whacked us instead of Jupiter!
Reminder to self. Send pleasant yet firm note to the observatory people, suggest gently they may have their 3000 foot arrays pointing the wrong way. I think we can photograph stuff on our streets all by ourselves. I would prefer receiving advance notice of threatening bolide encounters, unfortunately I don't know any zealous amateur astronomers, I should not need to... should I?
Update: Anthony Wesley has pinpointed the impact site at Jovian latitude minus 16.1o, and central meridian longitudes CM1: 300o, CM2: 33.8o and CM3: 210.4o.
Pa. Well Leaking Natural Gas, Fluids FAA Issues Flight Restriction In The Area HARRISBURG, Pa. - Pennsylvania environmental officials say natural gas and drilling fluids are pouring from an out-of-control well in rural Clearfield County.
Department of Environmental Protection spokesman Dan Spadoni said Thursday that no one has been reported injured and the polluted water hasn't reached a waterway.
The Federal Aviation Administration issued a flight restriction in the immediate area shortly after 11 a.m.
Spadoni says the accident happened late last night when unexpectedly high gas pressure in the newly drilled EOG Resources well prevented crews from containing it.
He says emergency crews have been at the scene all morning and companies that specialize in out-of-control wells are on site.
He says there are no homes within a mile.
Stay with Fox 29 News and MyFoxPhilly.com for more on this developing story.