Amateur astronomer records meteor crashing Jupiter

A massive meteor appears to have recently crashed into Jupiter — and it was big enough to be seen by an amateur astronomer here on Earth. Report informs citing the TASS. Ethan Chappel captured the rare moment with nothing more than a backyard telescope.

Chappel recorded a bright, unexpected flash on the surface of the gas giant Wednesday. Astronomers believe it could have been the impact of a large meteor crashing into the planet.

Chappel compiled the images into a gif showing the apparent moment of impact with a bright flash in the Southern Equatorial Belt. The flash only lasts a moment before fading, further fueling the idea of a possible meteor.