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Credit & Copyright: Gerald Rhemann
Explanation:
A Halley-type comet with an orbital period of about 133 years,
Comet 109P/Swift-Tuttle
is recognized as the parent of the annual Perseid Meteor Shower.
The comet's last visit to the inner Solar System
was
in 1992.
Then, it did not become easily visible to the naked eye,
but it did become bright enough to see
from most locations with binoculars and small telescopes.
This stunning color image of Swift-Tuttle's greenish coma,
long ion tail and dust tail was recorded using
film
on November 24, 1992.
That was about 16 days after the
large
periodic comet's
closest approach to Earth.
Comet Swift-Tuttle
is expected to next make an impressive
appearance in night skies in 2126.
Meanwhile, dusty cometary debris left along the orbit of
Swift-Tuttle will continue to be swept
up creating planet Earth's best-known July and
August
meteor shower.
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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:
- Comet 13P Olbers
- APOD: 2024 June 4 Á Comet Pons Brooks Develops Opposing Tails
- 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