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Астронет: Астрономическая картинка дня Комета LINEAR WM1 сияет на южном небе http://variable-stars.ru/db/msg/1174631/eng |
Credit & Copyright: Gordon Garradd,
Loomberah NSW Australia
Explanation:
A new comet has brightened unexpectedly and is
currently visible to unaided observers of southern skies.
Comet C/2000 WM1 (LINEAR)
is now reported by some observers to be at third
magnitude, making it brighter -- although more diffuse --
than most visible stars.
A dust tail as long as
3 degrees has also been reported.
Pictured above is the center of
Comet LINEAR (WM1) taken the morning of February 1
from 300 km north of Sydney,
Australia.
A bright coma and the start of the dust tail are visible
despite a bright, nearly full Moon.
The comet has now passed its closest approach to the Sun (January) and the
Earth (December) and will
move toward northern skies as it fades.
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.