An amateur astronomer got the shot of a lifetime Monday night when something impacted the planet of Jupiter.
George Hall said he had his 10-year-old, high-powered telescope set up in the middle of the city of Dallas, which usually doesn't afford him the best view of the sky. But this time he was able to capture video that has the astronomy world buzzing.
Hall's telescope caught a meteor or comet hitting the planet. It resulted in a huge explosion on the surface of Jupiter and a white flare that was visible for only about two seconds.
A man named Don Peterson in Wisconsin was the first to report seeing the explosion. But Hall has the only known video proof of the event, which he posted online.
"Amateur astronomers around the world were exchanging emails about this. My website overnight had over 50,000 hits from people looking at this. And this morning I posted a little video of it on Flickr and I noticed a while ago it had 75,000 hits on it so there's a lot of interest," Hall said.
Fort Worth astronomer Don Garland said after the explosion on Jupiter a few years ago called Shoemaker Levy 9, more amateur astronomers have been watching the planet.
There are thousands of things crashing into Jupiter, but catching them on video is rare, he said.
Saturday, May 18 2013 11:07 PM EDT2013-05-19 03:07:43 GMT
The NYPD says a 14-year-old girl was shot and killed on a Queens MTA bus Saturday night. The incident happened around 8:50 p.m. on board the Q-6 bus on Sutphin Avenue and Rockaway Boulevard
The NYPD says a 14-year-old girl was shot and killed on a Queens MTA bus Saturday night. The incident happened around 8:50 p.m. on board the Q-6 bus on Sutphin Avenue and Rockaway Boulevard
Saturday, May 18 2013 10:15 PM EDT2013-05-19 02:15:32 GMT
Police says a gay man was shot and killed in Greenwich Village after a man with a gun shouted homophobic slurs at him early Saturday morning. According to authorities, the 32-year-old victim was shot
Police says a gay man was shot and killed in Greenwich Village after a man with a gun shouted homophobic slurs at him early Saturday morning. According to authorities, the 32-year-old victim was shot
Saturday, May 18 2013 10:14 PM EDT2013-05-19 02:14:35 GMT
An airline official says a US Airways flight with 34 people aboard was forced to make a belly landing at Newark International Airport after experiencing landing gear trouble. No injuries were reported.
An airline official says a US Airways flight with 34 people aboard was forced to make a belly landing at Newark International Airport after experiencing landing gear trouble. No injuries were reported.
Saturday, May 18 2013 10:09 PM EDT2013-05-19 02:09:39 GMT
Authorities say one person is dead and another was injured when the vehicle they were in ran off the road and crashed into Huntington harbor on Long Island Saturday evening.
Authorities say one person is dead and another was injured when the vehicle they were in ran off the road and crashed into Huntington harbor on Long Island Saturday evening.
Saturday, May 18 2013 8:33 PM EDT2013-05-19 00:33:09 GMT
A 12-year-old boy was shot and killed and his father was wounded on a Jersey City street Friday night. Police say Gywan Levine Jr. and his father, Gywan Levine Sr., were walking on Rutgers Avenue
A 12-year-old boy was shot and killed and his father was wounded on a Jersey City street Friday night. Police say Gywan Levine Jr. and his father, Gywan Levine Sr., were walking on Rutgers Avenue
Saturday, May 18 2013 6:52 PM EDT2013-05-18 22:52:45 GMT
A large crowd of supporters in the Bronx joined the parents of a slain teen to protest a judge's ruling Saturday. Constance Malcolm and Francelot Graham whose son Ramarley was killed back in February
A large crowd of supporters in the Bronx joined the parents of a slain teen to protest a judge's ruling Saturday. Constance Malcolm and Francelot Graham whose son Ramarley was killed back in February
Saturday, May 18 2013 4:03 PM EDT2013-05-18 20:03:41 GMT
Officials in Connecticut say it was amazing that there were no fatalities or more injuries after two Metro-North trains collided around 6 p.m. in Fairfield Friday evening.
Officials in Connecticut say it was amazing that there were no fatalities or more injuries after two Metro-North trains collided around 6 p.m. in Fairfield Friday evening.
