X-ray observation of the Jovian impacts of comet Shoemaker - Levy 9

Abstract

An ASCA observation of the Jovian impact of the comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 is reported. Four impacts of H, L, Q1 and R were observed and four impacts of B, C, G, and Q2 were observed within 60 minutes after their impacts. No significant flaring of X-ray emission was observed. Upper limit X-ray fluxes of 90 % confidence level, averaged 5 minutes just after the impacts, were 2.4 × 10−13 erg sec−1 cm−2, 3.5 × 10−13 erg sec−1 cm−2, 1.6 × 10−13 erg sec−1 cm−2 and 2.9 × 10−13 erg sec−1 cm−2 for the impacts of H, L, Q1 and R, respectively, in the 0.5(0.7 for H and Q1)−10 keV energy range. However, a hint of X-ray enhancement around Jupiter from July 17 to July 19 was detected with about 2 ∼ 6 × 10−14 erg sec−1 cm−2 in the 0.5–10 keV energy range.