Secondary Fragmentation of Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 and the Ramifications for the Progenitor's Breakup in July 1992

Abstract

Comprehensive analysis of discrete events of secondary fragmentaion leads to conceptually new understanding of the process of disintegration of comet Shoemaker-Levy 9. We submit that the jovian tidal forces inflicted extensive cracks throughout the interior of the original nucleaus, but did not split it apart.