Астронет: Астрономическая картинка дня Два хвоста кометы Веста http://variable-stars.ru/db/msg/1161998/eng |
Credit & Copyright: Observatoire de Haute, Provence, France
Explanation:
Here Comet West is seen showing two enormous tails that wrap around the
sky. The ion tale of a
comet
usually appears more blue and always points away from the
Sun.
The dust tail trailing the comet's nucleus is the most
prominent. Comet West was a visually spectacular
comet,
reaching its most picturesque in March of 1976. A
comet
this bright occurs only about once a decade. Comets are really just
large dirty snowballs that shed material when they reach the inner
solar-system. Many astronomers are hopeful that
Comet Hale-Bopp will look
as spectacular as this in the spring of 1997.
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.