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Credit & Copyright: Fritz Helmut Hemmerich
Explanation:
What's happened to Comet Lovejoy?
In the
pictured image, a processed
composite,
the comet was captured early this month after brightening unexpectedly and sporting
a long and intricate
ion tail.
Remarkably, the typically complex effect of the
Sun's wind and
magnetic field
here caused the middle of
Comet Lovejoy's
ion tail to resemble the head of a needle.
Comet C/2017 E4 (Lovejoy) was discovered only last month
by
noted
comet
discoverer
Terry Lovejoy.
The comet reached
visual magnitude 7
earlier this month, making it a good target for binoculars and long duration
exposure cameras.
What's happened to
Comet Lovejoy (E4)
since this image was taken might be considered even more remarkable --
the comet's nucleus appeared to be
disintegrating
and fading as it neared its closest approach to the
Sun two days ago.
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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 - comet tail
Publications with words: comet - comet tail
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 26 Á Comet Pons Brooks Ion Tail
- 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