A huge hole on the surface of Jupiter was discovered by an amateur astronomer on July 20, 2009. The hole, about the size of the Earth, was apparently caused by the impact of a comet. The astronomer notified NASA who confirmed the impact and said it occurred near the planet's south pole region.http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-1201082/Hole-Jupiter-size-Earth-spotted-amateur-stargazer-comet-strike.html
History
Jupitar was hit by pieces of the Shoemaker-Levy 9 comet in 1994. The 2009 comet impact occurred around the anniversary of the 1994 comet strike.http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32015814/ns/technology_and_science-space/
NASA News Release
Featured Image
This image shows a large impact on Jupiter's south polar region captured on July 20, 2009, by NASA's Infrared Telescope Facility in Mauna Kea, Hawaii. Image credit: NASA/JPL/Infrared Telescope Facility
References
Fast Facts
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Date
July 20, 2009
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Location
Jupiter's south pole region
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First seen
Amateur astronomer Anthony Wesley from Australia
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Fact:
NASA's Jet Propulstion Laboratory was notified
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Fact:
Images of the impact were taken by NASA's Infrared Telescope in Hawaii
