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Credit & Copyright: José
J. Chambó
(Cometografia)
Explanation:
Not a comet,
bright spiral galaxy Messier 51 is popularly known as the
Whirlpool Galaxy.
Just off the handle of the Big Dipper in northern skies, you can
spot it at the upper left in this image from December 1st.
The pretty 4 by 2.5 degree wide
field of view does contain
two comets though.
Different in appearance, both comets are new visitors to the inner
Solar System and are
currently faint
telescopic objects, highest above northern horizons in morning twilight.
At lower left newly discovered comet
NEOWISE
(C/2016 U1)
shows off a round fuzzy coma in the greenish light of diatomic carbon gas
fluorescing in sunlight.
Sunlight reflects from dust in the coma and stubby tail of comet Johnson
(C/2015 V2)
at upper right.
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NASA Official: Jay Norris. Specific rights apply.
A service of: LHEA at NASA / GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
Based on Astronomy Picture
Of the Day