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Credit & Copyright: Wang Hao;
Processing: Song Wentao
Explanation:
How different are these two streaks?
The streak on the upper right is
Comet Tsuchinshan-Atlas showing an
impressive dust tail.
The comet is a large and dirty iceberg that entered the inner
Solar System and is
shedding gas and dust
as it is warmed by the Sun's light.
The streak on the lower left is a
meteor showing an impressive
evaporation trail.
The meteor is a small and cold rock that entered the
Earth's atmosphere and is shedding gas and dust as it is
warmed by molecular collisions.
The meteor was likely once part of a comet or
asteroid -- perhaps later composing part of its tail.
The meteor was
gone in a flash
and was only caught by coincidence during a
series of exposures documenting the
comet's long tail.
The featured image was captured just over a month ago from
Sichuan Province in
China.
Gallery:
Comet
Tsuchinshan-ATLAS in 2024
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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: meteor - comet
Publications with words: meteor - comet
See also:
- APOD: 2025 February 5 Á Comet G3 ATLAS Setting over a Chilean Hill
- APOD: 2025 February 2 Á Comet G3 ATLAS Disintegrates
- APOD: 2025 January 28 Á Comet G3 ATLAS over Uruguay
- APOD: 2025 January 26 Á The Many Tails of Comet G3 ATLAS
- Comet G3 ATLAS: a Tail and a Telescope
- APOD: 2025 January 21 Á Comet ATLAS over Brasilia
- APOD: 2025 January 20 Á Comet ATLAS Rounds the Sun