Comet Hyakutake Passes the Sun
Explanation:
On May 1,
Comet Hyakutake
made its closest approach to the
Sun. During this
time it was not possible to view the comet with most astronomical
instruments because of the brightness of the nearby Sun. But the orbiting
Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) spacecraft contains telescopes
meant to look directly at the Sun and so were able to track the comet
during this crucial time.
This picture,
taken May 2, shows the
tails of Comet Hyakutake
pointing away from the Sun, as expected. During its closest approach,
Comet Hyakutake
passed inside the orbit of
Mercury.
Comet Hyakutake
will not return to the inner
Solar System for another 14,000
years.
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.
