Discovery Image: Comet SOHO (1998 J1)
Explanation:
Staring at the Sun from a vantage point in space
(
Kids, don't
try this at home!),
the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory
(
SOHO) has
enabled the discovery of much about our closest star.
It has also been used to
discover about 50 comets.
While not competing
with Hale-Bopp,
one of SOHO's recently discovered comets has proved to be
bright enough to see with the unaided eye.
The May 4th discovery image is shown above
with an enlarged inset of the comet.
This colorized image is from SOHO's solar coronagraph
(
LASCO)
which views the region
around the Sun by blocking out the
overwhelming sunlight with an occulting disk.
The disk is visible near the bottom left, with
the Sun's size
and position indicated by the white circle.
Bright solar wind regions can also be seen along with the
the planet Mars
and a
background of stars.
The comet itself is just entering the field of view at the upper right.
Observers report that
Comet SOHO (1998 J1) has
now been seen
low in the western sky following sunset and is moving south and east
becoming more
visible as this month progresses, particularly from the
Southern Hemisphere.
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.
