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Астронет: Астрономическая картинка дня Комета Хиякутаке: звезды через хвост http://variable-stars.ru/db/msg/1163410/eng |
Credit & Copyright: R. Scott and J. Orman
Explanation:
Comets are cosmic icebergs.
They follow very elongated orbits
which carry them from the frozen, remote outer reaches of the Solar System
to close encounters with the Sun.
Heated by sunlight, they slough off layers
of material as
gas and dust, forming their characteristic
awe-inspiring comas (heads) and tails.
In the spring of 1996,
Comet Hyakutake inspired Arizona
photographers Rick Scott
and Joe Orman to take this picture
showing faint stars near
the constellation Ursa Minor
(the Little Dipper) shining through the comet's long, graceful tail.
Blown by the solar wind,
comet tails
generally point
away from the Sun.
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.