|
Credit & Copyright: T. Puckett
(Puckett Observatory)
Explanation:
Star trails streak this composite time
exposure of
Comet Tempel-Tuttle recorded by T. Puckett on January 26.
Presently passing through the
inner solar system on its 33 year orbit around the Sun,
Tempel-Tuttle has brightened unexpectedly, but
binoculars or small telescopes
are still required to visually observe it.
Tempel-Tuttle is also called
"the Leonid Comet" as the yearly
Leonid meteor shower
results when the Earth crosses this comet's orbital
plane and encounters cometary dust.
So, while not currently rivaling the spectacle of a
Hyakutake or
Hale-Bopp,
Tempel-Tuttle may still put on a show.
When the Earth plunges through Tempel-Tuttle's debris tail in November of
this year, many sky-watchers are anticipating an extremely
active meteor shower to result, perhaps even a meteor storm!
|
January February March April May June July August September October November December |
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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 Tempel-Tuttle - Leonids - meteor shower
Publications with words: comet Tempel-Tuttle - Leonids - meteor shower
See also: