Hubble observed the impact of Comet Shoemaker–Levy 9 in 1994. The comet’s fragments struck Jupiter between July 16 and July 22, creating the first directly observed collision between Solar System objects.
Shoemaker–Levy 9 was discovered in March 1993 by Carolyn Shoemaker, Eugene Shoemaker, and David Levy. Astronomers determined that Jupiter’s gravity had captured the comet and that a close approach in July 1992 had pulled it apart through tidal forces. The resulting chain of fragments was predicted to collide with Jupiter the following year.
Hubble and observatories on Earth monitored the event, while the Galileo spacecraft viewed the impacts from a different angle. The impacts occurred on Jupiter’s far side, but the planet’s rapid rotation soon brought the dark scars into view. The event produced enormous fireballs and atmospheric markings, helping scientists study Jupiter’s atmosphere and the effects of large cosmic impacts.