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Credit & Copyright: Dan Bartlett
Explanation:
Distant galaxies abound in this
one degree wide field of view toward
the southern constellation Grus (The Crane).
But the three spiral galaxies at the lower right are quite striking.
In fact, all three galaxies are grouped about 70 million light years away
and sometimes known as
the Grus Triplet.
They share the pretty telescopic frame, recorded on December 13,
with the
comet
designated
C/2020 V2 ZTF.
Now outbound from the inner Solar System and swinging below
the ecliptic plane in a
hyperbolic
orbit, the comet was about 29 light-minutes from our fair planet in this image.
And though this comet ZTF was brighter when it was
closest to the Sun last May and closest to Earth in September of 2023,
it still shines in telescopes pointed toward southern night skies,
remaining almost as bright as the Grus Triplet galaxies.
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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