Astronomers call for help identifying mystery object that may have just crashed into Saturn
Studies suggest large objects – measuring over a kilometre across – strike Saturn once every 3,125 years on an average.
Although data shows seven or eight small space rocks hit the planet every year, none have been spotted in the act by astronomers so far.
Compared to rocky planets where cosmic collisions leave impact craters, gas giants like Jupiter and Saturn don't reveal such signs.
But a new image captured by a Nasa employee and amateur astronomer Mario Rana appears to show a space object crashing into Saturn for the first time.
Since gas giants have outer layers made of hydrogen and helium, strikes by asteroids or comets can quickly fade out.
Ms Rana is part of the DeTeCt project, which analyses images of Jupiter and Saturn using computer software. Videos taken of Saturn by the astronomer last Saturday show a faint glow in the left side of the footage, which seems like an impact event.
The Planetary Virtual Observatory and Laboratory, or PVOL, a consortium of professional and amateur astronomers, has called for experts in the field to attempt to confirm or refute the potential impact on Saturn.
'Marc Delcroix reports a potential impact in Saturn captured in a few frames in a video observation obtained by Mario Rana. The potential impact would be very faint and is unconfirmed,' PVOL said in a statement.
'The very short impact flash occurred on Saturn on 5 July 2025, between 9am and 9.15am UT. It is very important to get other videos of Saturn taken during that time frame.'
PVOL has urged astronomers who may have also captured observations from this time to contact Mr Delcroix on email (delcroix.marc@free.fr) and submit their data.
Leigh N Fletcher, a planetary science professor at the University of Leicester, also called for amateur space observers to share any potential videos they may have of the impact.
'Amplifying the call from Marc Delcroix and co over the weekend: the team are looking to verify/refute a potential impact on Saturn on 5 July, 9am to 9.15am UT,' Dr Fletcher wrote on BlueSky.
'Videos taken by amateur observers at that time might hold the key.'
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