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Астронет: Астрономическая картинка дня Комета и звёздное скопление http://variable-stars.ru/db/msg/1360246/eng |
Credit & Copyright: JosИ J. ChambС
(Cometografia)
Explanation:
Comet Linear has become unexpectedly bright.
The comet, discovered in 2000, underwent a
100-fold outburst
just a week before it passed a mere 14
lunar distances
from Earth late last month.
The comet was
captured here
last week at about
magnitude 6 --
just bright enough to be seen by the
unaided eye -- passing in front of the distant
globular star
cluster M14.
Comet 252/P LINEAR is one
of a
rare group of comets
that vacillate between the Earth and Jupiter every 5 years.
How the comet will evolve from here is unknown,
but hopes run high that
it
will remain a good object for binoculars in northern skies
for the next week or two.
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.