typical lightcurve for the impact of an SL9 fragment, as registered at infrared wavelengths from the Earth, consists Optical observations of Jupiter obtained during the encounter with Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 are analyzed. The time depen-of three peaks. The first two peaks (so-called precursors dences of the intensity of visible and infrared radiation caused Pc1 and Pc2) are weak and short, whereas the third is by the impact were obtained during direct optical observations bright and prolonged. Figure 2 shows the lightcurve for R of Jupiter made by the Galileo spacecraft. Subsequent groundimpact (Graham et al. 1995).
based observations near Jupiter's limb registered a shining
In this paper we develop the model proposed by Ivlev structure with peculiar optical properties. Typically, the impact et al. (1994) and then compare the predictions of this model of cometary fragments produced three flash-like peaks on the with the observational data. First, we discuss the Galileo lightcurve as seen from Earth. An explosive model of energy PPR data and propose their interpretation: the PPR has release as the cometary fragments slow in the jovian atmosphere registered the radiation from the fireball during its main is shown to adequately explain the data obtained.