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Credit & Copyright: Rolando Ligustri
(CARA Project,
CAST)
Explanation:
Returning along
its 6.4 year orbit,
periodic comet Churyumov-Gerasimenko (67P) is caught in this
telescopic frame from November 7.
Sweeping past background stars in the constellation Gemini
the comet's dusty tail stretches toward the upper right to Upsilon Geminorum.
Also known as Pollux,
Beta Geminorum, Gemini's brightest star,
shines just off the upper left edge of the field-of-view.
Churyumov-Gerasimenko
reached its 2021 perihelion
or closest approach to the Sun on November 2.
At perigee, its closest approach to planet Earth on November 12,
this comet was about 0.42 astronomical units away,
though it remains too faint to be seen by eye alone.
The
well-studied comet
was explored by robots from planet Earth
during its last trip through the inner solar system.
It's now famous as the final resting place for the historic
Rosetta
spacecraft and Philae lander.
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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