Ultimately, Shoemaker-Levy had a greater effect on Jupiter than anyone had anticipated. Although a number of the cometΓÇÖs fragments were too small to make any noticeable difference on the planet, the largest created disturbances to rival even the Great Red Spot, producing tremendous atmospheric disturbances (the dark patches in this image). All the fragments hit at about the same latitude, so the impact areas appeared along the planetΓÇÖs southern band; for months they were visible to relatively small amateur telescopes. There is still much speculation about the nature of these dark patches: some astronomers suggest they are clouds of dust or stars thrown into JupiterΓÇÖs upper atmosphere when the incoming comet exploded;
