SWAN Meets Galaxy . ... Credit Copyright: Andrea Tamanti Explanation: This cosmic portrait recorded October 9th features the lovely blue-green coma of Comet SWAN posing with spiral galaxy NGC 5005 in the northern constellation Canes Venatici . At the time the comet (center) was in the close foreground, a mere 9 light-minutes from planet Earth, with the galaxy a more substantial 60 million light-years distant. ... NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings, and Disclaimers . NASA Official: Jay Norris. ...