July 8, 1992: Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 breaks up

Today in the history of astronomy, a comet cruises too close to Jupiter.
By | Published: July 8, 2025

Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 is shown on its way to Jupiter in 1994 in this composite image. Credit: NASA/ESA/Hubble

Key Takeaways:

  • Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 broke into pieces near Jupiter due to its strong gravity.
  • The comet pieces collided with Jupiter in July 1994.
  • The impact left large, dark spots on Jupiter.
  • The event gave scientists important information about Jupiter's composition.
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In July 1992, Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 made its closest approach to Jupiter, skimming 25,000 miles (40,000 km) above Jupiter’s cloud tops. That put Shoemaker-Levy 9 within the gas giant’s Roche limit; the planet’s tidal forces broke the comet into more than 20 pieces, giving it a “string of pearls” appearance and setting the stage for a series of impacts. The fragmented comet was discovered in March 1993 by Carolyn and Gene Shoemaker and David Levy, and by May, the forecast had been made: Comet Shoemaker-Levy would hit Jupiter in July 1994. The predicted bombardment occurred from July 16 to 22, with NASA spacecraft in position to observe the events. The collision left huge, dark marks on Jupiter’s face, and provided scientists with invaluable data on temperature, the presence of water, and the makeup of Jupiter’s interior.

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