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Credit & Copyright: Richard Richins
(NMSU)
Explanation:
Go outside tonight and see Comet Lulin.
From a dark location, you should need only a
good
star
map and
admirable
perseverance --
although wide-field binoculars might help.
Yesterday,
Comet Lulin passed its closest to Earth, so that the comet will remain near its brightest over the next few days.
The comet is currently almost 180 degrees around from the Sun and
so visible nearly all night long, but will appear to
move on the sky
about 10 full moons a night.
Pictured above,
Comet Lulin was captured in
spectacular form two nights ago from New Mexico, USA.
The central coma of the comet is appearing quite green, a color likely indicating
glowing
cyanogen and molecular
carbon gasses.
Bright stars and a distant
spiral galaxy
are clearly visible in the image background.
The yellow dust tail, reflecting sunlight, is
visible sprawling to the coma's left trailing behind
the comet, while the textured bluish-glowing ion tail is visible to the coma's
right, pointing away from the Sun.
Over the past few weeks, from the current vantage point of Earth, these
two tails appeared to point in opposite directions.
Comet Lulin is expected to slowly fade over the next few weeks.
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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: comet - comet tail
Publications with words: comet - comet tail
See also:
- Comet 13P Olbers
- APOD: 2024 June 4 Á Comet Pons Brooks Develops Opposing Tails
- APOD: 2024 April 17 Á Total Eclipse and Comets
- APOD: 2024 April 8 Á The Changing Ion Tail of Comet Pons Brooks
- Comet Pons-Brooks at Night
- APOD: 2024 March 26 Á Comet Pons Brooks Ion Tail
- APOD: 2024 March 18 Á Comet Pons Brooks Swirling Coma