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An astronomer has spotted a “strange light” near Jupiter while filming a time-lapse of the planets.
Experts have suggested it could be an asteroid or a comet.
John McKeon, an amateur astronomer, saw a “strange light…on the edge of the planetary disc” while he was filming in Ireland.
In a description of the time-lapse, John says “the original purpose of the imaging session was to get this time-lapse – with a happy coincidence of the impact in the second last capture of the night”.
The clip was shot from Swords in Dublin on March 17th, shortly after midnight.
John’s video of the impact has already been viewed more than 900,000 times since it was uploaded on Monday.
Another video, captured by Gerrit Kernbauer from Austria, also shows the apparent impact.
Speaking to Space.com, NASA asteroid expert Paul Chodas said it is more likely an asteroid rather than a comet collided with the planet, “simply because there are more of them.
“From our point of view this simply serves to remind us that impacts in the solar system are real and Jupiter gets more than its fair share of impacts,” he added, suggesting similar ‘flashes’ are spotted around once a year.
Agencies/Canadajournal
