What If Comet SL9 Strikes Mars, the Moon, or Venus?

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The discussion explores hypothetical scenarios of Comet SL9 striking Mars, the Moon, or Venus, emphasizing that such impacts would not be catastrophic. It notes that SL9 was approximately 5 km in diameter, significantly smaller than the 10 km asteroid believed to have caused the dinosaur extinction. Jupiter is mentioned as a likely source of cometary impacts due to its massive gravitational influence. The conversation highlights the irony of Jupiter being struck, given its size and position in the solar system. Overall, the potential impacts on these celestial bodies would be significant but not world-ending.
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But not Earth.

Ironically Jupiter would be the comet thrower here most likely yes?

Scenario 1: SL9 hits Mars.

Scenario 2: SL9 hits the Moon.

Scenario 3: SL9 hits Venus.
 
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Pangaea said:
But not Earth.

Scenario 1: SL9 hits Mars.

Scenario 2: SL9 hits the Moon.

Scenario 3: SL9 hits Venus.
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.
Ironically Jupiter would be the comet thrower here most likely yes?
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.
 


russ_watters said:
being the largest body in the solar system besides the sun makes it the most likely to be hit.
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.
 
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