Comet Shoemaker–Levy 9

High school (ages 12+)
Space & Astronomy

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/comet-shoemakerlevy-9

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the cometary nucleus fragments?At least 21 major fragments observed
2. What is the maximum fragment diameter?Approximately 2 kilometers (1.2 miles)
3. How did the comet break apart before hitting Jupiter?Jupiter’s strong gravity pulled on it when it got too close, stretching it until it split into at least 21 fragments.
4. When did the comet hit Jupiter and how fast did it travel?The fragments struck Jupiter from July 16 to July 22, 1994, moving about 60 kilometers per second.

Roche Limit: The distance within which a celestial body, held together by its own gravity, will disintegrate due to a second celestial body's tidal forces.
Tidal Forces: Differential gravitational forces exerted by a celestial body on another, causing stretching or compression.
Planetary Defense: Strategies and technologies aimed at detecting and mitigating the threat posed by near-Earth objects.