The discussion centers on the hypothetical impact scenarios of Comet SL9 on Mars, the Moon, and Venus, excluding Earth. It is established that SL9 was approximately 5 km in diameter, and its impact would not cause significant fragmentation of the celestial bodies. The conversation highlights Jupiter's role as a gravitational influencer in the solar system, making it a likely candidate for redirecting comets. The comparison to the 10 km asteroid believed to have caused the extinction of the dinosaurs underscores the relative scale of potential impacts.
PREREQUISITESAstronomers, planetary scientists, and educators interested in impact events and celestial mechanics will benefit from this discussion.
Before being broken up, SL-9 was probably on the order of 5 km across. It would have been exciting if it had hit one of those other bodies, but nothing too crazy (it wouldn't have broken one apart or anything like that). The one that is thought to have killed the dinosaurs was on the order of 10km.Pangaea said:But not Earth.
Scenario 1: SL9 hits Mars.
Scenario 2: SL9 hits the Moon.
Scenario 3: SL9 hits Venus.
That's not a complete sentence and doesn't make a lot of sense, but I think you are saying that it is ironic that Jupiter was the one struck. Not really: being the largest body in the solar system besides the sun makes it the most likely to be hit.Ironically Jupiter would be the comet thrower here most likely yes?
I assume you're talking about largest gravity well, since the planetary bodies are the equivalent of hitting a BB with another BB from miles away.russ_watters said:being the largest body in the solar system besides the sun makes it the most likely to be hit.