Astronomy Picture of the Day
    


Comet Hale Bopp in the Outer Solar System
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Comet Hale Bopp in the Outer Solar System
Credit & Copyright: Olivier Hainaut (ESO) et al., MPG/ESO 2.2-m Telescope, WFI, La Silla Observatory, ESO
Explanation: Whatever became of Comet Hale-Bopp? The brightest comet in recent years has continued into the outer Solar System and is now further from the Sun than Saturn. To the surprise of many, Comet Hale-Bopp is still active, continuing to spew gas, ice and dust particles out into space. Pictured above earlier this month, Comet Hale-Bopp can be seen in the Southern Hemisphere with a moderate sized-telescope. The continued activity of Comet Hale-Bopp may be due to the large size of its nucleus - estimated to be about 50 kilometers across. The unusual dotted appearance of most stars in the above image is due to the 14 discrete exposures that were centered on the comet and not the stars.

Tomorrow's picture: Cheesy Mars

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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.

Based on Astronomy Picture Of the Day

Publications with keywords: comet - Comet Hale-Bopp
Publications with words: comet - Comet Hale-Bopp
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