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Credit & Copyright: Pavel Smilyk
Explanation:
Currently, comet PANSTARRS is passing nearly in front of the galaxy Andromeda.
Coincidentally, both
comet and galaxy appear now to be just about the same
angular size.
In physical size, even though
Comet PANSTARRS is currently the largest object in the
Solar System with a tail spanning about 15 times the diameter of
the Sun, it is still about 70 billion times
smaller than the
Andromeda galaxy (M31).
The above image was taken a few days ago near
Syktyvkar,
Russia.
As C/2011 L4 (PANSTARRS) on the lower left
recedes from the Sun and dims, it is
returning to the northerly direction
whence it came.
When
the comet
will return is currently unknown, although
humans may have merged with computers by then.
Gallery:
Comet PANSTARRS
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NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings, and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris. Specific rights apply.
A service of: LHEA at NASA / GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
Based on Astronomy Picture
Of the Day