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Credit & Copyright: Damian Peach/SEN
Explanation:
Not a bright comet,
67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko now sweeps slowly through
planet Earth's predawn skies near the line-up of
planets along the ecliptic.
Still, this composite of telescopic images follows the
comet's progress as it moves away from the Sun
beyond
the orbit of Mars,
from late September (left) through late November (far right).
Its faint but extensive
coma and tails
are viewed against
the colorful background of stars near the eastern edge of
the constellation Leo.
A year ago, before its perihelion passage,
the comet was less active, though.
Then the Rosetta
mission's lander Philae made it's historic landing,
touching down
on the surface of the comet's nucleus.
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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
Publications with keywords: comet
Publications with words: comet
See also:
- APOD: 2024 April 17 Á Total Eclipse and Comets
- APOD: 2024 April 8 Á The Changing Ion Tail of Comet Pons Brooks
- Comet Pons-Brooks at Night
- APOD: 2024 March 18 Á Comet Pons Brooks Swirling Coma
- Comet 12P/Pons Brooks in Northern Spring
- Structure in the Tail of Comet 12P/Pons Brooks
- The Snows of Churyumov Gerasimenko