Which planet was observed as an 'asteroid sponge' after Shoemaker-Levy 9 collided with it?

• A. Neptune
• B. Jupiter
• C. Saturn
• D. Uranus

Answer: (B)

The key idea here is how a giant planet’s atmosphere responds to a major impact. When Shoemaker-Levy 9 broke apart and slammed into a planet in 1994, the energy and fragments were absorbed by that planet’s thick atmosphere rather than leaving a solid surface mark. The observations showed bright fireballs and long-lasting scars across the cloud tops, a pattern seen on Jupiter due to its enormous, deep atmosphere and strong gravity. That combination makes it behave like an atmospheric sponge, soaking up the incoming material and energy. The other planets didn’t exhibit this exact observed response to the Shoemaker-Levy 9 event, so Jupiter is the planet associated with the “asteroid sponge” description.