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Credit & Copyright: D. Peach,
Chilescope team
Explanation:
Blowing in the solar wind the spectacular ion tail of
Comet SWAN (C/2020 F8)
extends far across this 10 degree wide telephoto field of view.
Captured on May 2 its greenish
coma was about 6 light-minutes
from Earth.
The pretty background starfield lies near the border of the
constellations Cetus and Aquarius.
This comet SWAN was discovered at home by
Australian
amateur Michael Mattiazzo
by checking images from the Sun-staring
SOHO spacecraft's
SWAN (Solar Wind ANisotropies) camera.
The comet has now become just visible to
the naked-eye as it sweeps
from
southern to northern skies.
Appearing in morning twilight near the eastern horizon,
Comet SWAN will make its closest approach to planet Earth
on May 12 and reach perihelion on May 27.
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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
Publications with words: 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