( CNN ) -- In an unusual step , NASA scientists interrupted testing of the refurbished Hubble Space Telescope to aim the orbiter 's camera at Jupiter and capture an image of the planet 's mysterious new scar . The revamped Hubble telescope captured these images of an impact scar near Jupiter 's south pole . The resulting picture , taken Thursday , is the sharpest visible-light photo of the dark spot and Hubble 's first science observation since astronauts repaired and upgraded it in May , NASA said . Earth-based telescopes have been trained on Jupiter since an amateur astronomer in Australia noticed the new mark , probably created when a small comet or asteroid plunged into Jupiter 's atmosphere and disintegrated , early Monday . But in its rarified orbit 347 miles above the Earth , the Hubble has a better view of the gaseous planet . This week 's event marks only the second time scientists have recorded debris colliding with Jupiter , the fifth planet from the sun and the largest in our solar system . The appearance of the impact spot is changing day to day in the planet 's cloud tops , making it a priority for scientists to document it quickly . Although the Hubble is not expected to resume full operations until late summer and its new camera is still being calibrated , NASA scientists decided the Jupiter event was too significant not to put the orbiting observatory back into action for a day . `` Because we believe this magnitude of impact is rare , we are very fortunate to see it with Hubble , '' said Amy Simon-Miller of NASA 's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt , Maryland . `` Details seen in the Hubble view shows a lumpiness to the debris plume caused by turbulence in Jupiter 's atmosphere . '' Jupiter 's colorful atmosphere is 86 percent hydrogen and 14 percent helium , with tiny amounts of methane , ammonia , phosphine , water , acetylene , ethane , germanium and carbon monoxide . The chemicals are responsible for producing the different colors of Jupiter 's clouds . The object created a mark on Jupiter that has about same diameter as Earth , though the object itself was probably only 50 to 100 miles across , said Anthony Wesley , the astronomer who first noticed the scar . The mystery object was probably moving at speeds of about 50 to 100 kilometers ( 31 to 62 miles ) per second when it struck near Jupiter 's south pole , Wesley said . The new image of Jupiter was taken with Hubble 's Wide Field Camera 3 , which was installed by the astronauts aboard space shuttle Atlantis in May . Because it is still being calibrated , the camera 's full power has yet to be seen , NASA said . The Hubble has been in orbit since 1990 and can capture images that telescopes on Earth ca n't , partly because it does n't have to gaze through the planet 's murky atmosphere . The unplanned Jupiter photo shoot will add delays to the recommissioning of Hubble , NASA said . But scientists are at a point in the telescope 's reboot where they have enough flexibility to employ Hubble to look at the unexpected astronomical event , they said .
The Hubble telescope captured image of Jupiter 's mysterious new scar . It was created when comet or asteroid fell into Jupiter 's atmosphere . Image was taken by Hubble 's new camera , which is still being tested . It is not expected to resume full operation until late summer .