<p><br /> A flash of light believed to be caused by astral matter colliding with Jupiter has been captured on camera by an amateur astronomer in Japan.<br /> </p><p><br /> Video footage depicting the unusual flash of light was recorded by amateur stargazer Masayuki Tachikawa at his home in Kumamoto City, southern Japan.<br /> </p><p><br /> It is the third sighting of flashes of light on Jupiter this year, with similar reports by astronomers based in the Philippines and Australia.<br /> </p><p><br /> In a reflection of the significance of the latest discovery, officials at the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan (NAOJ) have reported the incident to the International Astronomical Union.<br /> </p><p><br /> Junichi Watanabe, a professor at the NAOJ, told Kyodo News: "This kind of footage is rarely filmed."<br /> </p><p><br /> It was in the early hours of Saturday morning that Mr Tachikawa, 52, recorded a glow that lasted for around two seconds near Jupiter's equator using a video telescope at his home.<br /> </p><p><br /> "I took it for noise signals at first but I was really surprised because the image of the light remained on the video," Mr Tachikawa said.<br /> </p><p><br /> Astronomers believe that the astral body that hit Jupiter was most likely less than 1km in width as there was no trace left after the flash subsided.<br /> </p><p><br /> With the rise of sophisticated telescopic equipment on the market, a growing number of amateur astronomers are making significant planetary observations.<br /> </p><p><br /> In June, amateur planet-watchers also captured on camera a similar fireball that seemed to hit into Jupiter with a flash.<br /> </p><p><br /> Further investigations by NASA's Hubble Space Telescope concluded that this flash was caused by a giant meteor as it plunged into the atmosphere surrounding Jupiter.<br /> </p>
