SOHOs Twin Sungrazers
Explanation:
This four frame animation (courtesy
D. Biesecker) shows
two comets arcing toward a fatal fiery encounter with the Sun.
These discovery images were
recorded by the LASCO instrument on board the
space-based SOHO solar observatory on June 1-2.
A portion of
LASCO's circular occulting disk - which blocks the blinding
direct sunlight - is seen at the upper left along with a bright
solar wind region extending to the right.
For scale, the size and position of the Sun's edge are outlined by the
white quarter circle on the occulting disk.
The
Sungrazer
comets approach from below and have visible tails.
The lower
comet's coma is bright enough to cause
a horizontal blemish in the digital image, while the tail of the upper
comet grows
dramatically as it closes with the Sun.
The pair are "twins" or at least "siblings" in the sense that they are
both likely
members of a family of comets thought to result from
the breakup
of a single large parent comet.
Members of the Sungrazer family
can pass within 400,000 miles or less of the solar surface
and many, like this pair, do not survive.
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.
