In July 1992 the orbit of Shoemaker-Levy 9 passed within Jupiter's Roche limit, and Jupiter's tidal forces acted to pull the comet apart. SL9 was later observed as a series of fragments ranging up to 42 km in diameter. The majority of these fragments collided with Jupiter's southern hemisphere between July 16 and July 22, 1994, at a speed of approximately 60 kps. The prominent scars from the impacts were more easily visible than the Great Red Spot and persisted for many months. Three fragments however escaped Jupiter's gravity. They are designated SL9-A, SL9-B and SL9-C.