|
Credit & Copyright: Victor Sabet &
Julien De Winter
Explanation:
How does a comet tail change?
It depends on the comet.
The ion tail of
Comet C/2025 A6 (Lemmon) has been changing markedly,
as detailed in the featured image sequenced over six days
between September 25 and October 4 (left to right) from
Texas,
USA.
On some days, the comet's ion tail was relatively more complex than other days.
Reasons for tail changes include the rate of
ejection of material from the
comet's nucleus,
the strength and complexity of the
passing solar wind, and the
rotation rate of the
comet.
Sometimes, over the course of a week,
apparent differences even result from a change of perspective from the Earth.
In general, a comet's
ion tail will point away from the Sun, as gas expelled is pushed out by the
Sun's wind.
Comet Lemmon is still
inbound and brightening,
passing nearest the
Earth
on October 21 and nearest the
Sun on November 8.
|
January February March April May June July August September October November December |
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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: