Why did the nuclei of the original Shoemaker-Levy 9 comet break into many pieces?

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Biology

Owen Thompson

28 December, 13:48

Why did the nuclei of the original Shoemaker-Levy 9 comet break into many pieces?

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Graves · Answer 1

The nuclei of the original Shoemaker-Levy 9 comet break into many pieces as a result of a close approach to the planet Jupiter. During this close approach, the uneven gravitational attractions of the Jupiter on the Shoemaker-Levy 9 comet’s far and near edges broke the fragile nuclei apart.