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The event, which occurred at 4:31 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) on June 3, 2010, was caught by video cameras being used independently by amateur astronomers Christopher Go (from the Philippines) and Anthony Wesley (from Australia).
The two amateur astronomers saw the impact, with the resulting bright flash as the impact threw up an 'Earth-size fireball' above the atmosphere of the planet.
A YouTube video of the collision is found on the June 4, 2010 National Geographic article Daily News article 'Bright Fireball Slams Into Jupiter.'
Or, you can go directly to the YouTube video entitled 'Asteroid Impact on Jupiter; Anthony Wesley (2010.06.03).'
The National Geographic article quotes Dr. Heidi B. Hammel, from the Space Science Institute (Boulder, Colorado).
Page two concludes with Dr. Hammel's comment.
Dr. Hammel states, "The data'”independently confirmed by two well-respected amateurs'”seem robust, and the flare certainly bears all the characteristics of a Jovian 'bolide,' or impact.'
The collision between Jupiter and the so-far unknown celestial body, which astronomers think was an asteroid, is seen in the far upper, left quadrant of Jupiter, about five or six seconds into the video stream.
This impact is the second impact to Jupiter verified in 2009 and 2010. Such impacts help astronomers learn more about how such impacts affect planets, such as Jupiter and, closer to home, our planet Earth.
Also, check out the BBC News article "Jupiter collision 'was asteroid'" for additional information on this event that played out on Jupiter and caught on high tech equipment by two well-respected amateur astronomers.
