so you're saying we're not allowed to look at the rest of the universe so that we can solely focus on the low frequency of times an object collides with Jupiter? that seems like not a good use of all of the observation ability we have
The Search for Terrestrial Intelligence scores a positive signal.
Adding one further factor to your list: there's all but certainly a direct correlation between major Jupiter strikes and Earth strikes. Refining estimates of the former will help in establishing values of the latter.
Though existing known power-law relations of meteor(ite) impacts on Earth of size vs. time are fairly well established as well, I suppose.
>>No, he’s saying one singular (small) telescope could be pointed at Jupiter at all times.
> The Search for Terrestrial Intelligence scores a positive signal.
For a singular telescope to be viewing Jupiter, it would only be able to see one side of Jupiter. What happens if an object collides on the backside? Going to throw off your metrics that you seem to think is a worth while effort to investigate.
So I guess terrestrial intelligence didn't score much after all
Impact location is randomly distributed. Curiously enough, extrapolation from observations based on half the surface are should be reasonably possible, though some may find the maths involved challenging.
Jupiter's rotational period is ~10 hours. Atmospheric scars from sufficiently sizeable impacts will be visible on average within half that period. (See the Shoemaker-Levy instance for how farside impact atmospheric scars appear.)
