SO and SO2, indicates that there was little or no water present in the shocked air. Predicted luminosity of the entering bolide and the subsequent fireball produced by 0.5 and 1 km diameter comets striking Jupiter. The solid curves show the view from the Galileo spacecraft. The dotted curves show the direct view from Earth, whcih allows for the plume rising above the limb. The luminosity peak was detected from Earth by scattered light.
Total sunlight reflected by Jupiter is shown for comparison.
Aerodynamic forces caused the impactors to explode. I have discussed our model in previous Research and Technology reports. Airburst altitudes for impactors of different densities, shown as a function of impactor diameter. Altitudes of condensation clouds are marked. This size and mass were predicted by a model of tidal disruption.