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Дата изменения: Wed May 15 10:09:55 2002
Дата индексирования: Sat Feb 12 18:38:17 2011
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Поисковые слова: m 103
Journal "Peremennye Zvezdy"
Peremennye Zvezdy

Tail Wags of Comet Ikeya Zhang
<< Yesterday 15.05.2002 Tomorrow >>
Tail Wags of Comet Ikeya Zhang
Credit & Copyright: Michael Karrer
Explanation: As Comet Ikeya-Zhang approached the Sun two months ago, it developed a complex blue ion tail. The tail was composed of ions that boiled off the nucleus and were pushed away from the Sun by the out-flowing fast-moving particles of the solar wind. Complexity in the tail is created by comet nucleus rotation, variability in the comet surface evaporation rate, and variability of the Sun's magnetic field and solar wind. The above animation documents how Comet Ikeya-Zhang's tail changed over 30 minutes in ten consecutive 3-minute exposures on March 11. Comet Ikeya Zhang is now fading as it heads back to the outer Solar System. It should remain visible through a small telescope for another month.

Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff (MTU) & Jerry Bonnell (USRA)
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

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