Simulations of the Breakup of Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 Employing a Swarm Model: Dynamical Evolution (1995)

Synopsis

The breakup of comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 due to its gravitational interaction with Jupiter in July, 1994 is simulated using a swarm model. In this simulation, the comet is modeled as an initially spherical distribution of 16,384 particles. The particles interact with the tidal field of Jupiter and with each other through inter-particle gravitation and collisions. All simulations were performed on the Maspar MP-2 at NASA/GSFC. Note: This animation follows the center of mass of the particles as the clumps form, stopping at several points to rotate and zoom the swarm configuration. The green line connects the center of mass with Jupiter and the box size remains constant at 4 km. Animator: Kevin Olson (George Mason University). Scientist: Kevin Olson (George Mason University), Michael Mumma (NASA/GSFC).

Uploader's description on archive.org

Details

Running time

4 minutes

Collection

NASA

Subjects on the Internet Archive

• Comet, Jupiter, Space science

More like this

• Simulations of the Breakup of Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 Employing a Swarm Model: Initial Conditions (1995)
• Hubble Takes First Image of a Possible Planet around Another Star and Finds a Runaway World (1998)
• The Andromeda Galaxy, Milky Way and Jupiter (2009)
• Juno: a mission to Jupiter launching in 2011 (2009)
• Galileo Earth Views (WMS) (2004)
• Rotation Period Comparison Between Earth and Jupiter (2009)
• Too Close for Comfort: Hubble Discovers an Evaporating Planet (2003)
• Hubble Images of Asteroids Help Astronomers Prepare for Spacecraft Visit (2007)
• LARGEST: A Spherical Movie About Jupiter (2009)
• Shoemaker-Levy 9 Hitting Jupiter with Orbit Trails (2009)