Comet ISON fate unclear after perihelion passage
Posted: Fri, Nov 29, 2013, 10:03 AM ET (1503 GMT)
At least part of Comet ISON may have survived a close flyby of the Sun on Thursday after astronomers initially thought the comet was completely vaporized during the passage. The comet passed about 1.2 million kilometers from the Sun at 1:37 pm EST (1837 GMT) Thursday, and images taken by NASA's SDO spacecraft failed to detect the comet immediately before or after that closest approach. While astronomers speculated at the time that ISON may have been destroyed during the flyby, the comet reappeared later Thursday in images taken by the SOHO and STEREO spacecraft, indicating that parts of the comet, or debris from it, survived. Further observations are required to determine how much of the comet survived and how visible it will be as it recedes from the Sun.
At least part of Comet ISON may have survived a close flyby of the Sun on Thursday after astronomers initially thought the comet was completely vaporized during the passage. The comet passed about 1.2 million kilometers from the Sun at 1:37 pm EST (1837 GMT) Thursday, and images taken by NASA's SDO spacecraft failed to detect the comet immediately before or after that closest approach. While astronomers speculated at the time that ISON may have been destroyed during the flyby, the comet reappeared later Thursday in images taken by the SOHO and STEREO spacecraft, indicating that parts of the comet, or debris from it, survived. Further observations are required to determine how much of the comet survived and how visible it will be as it recedes from the Sun.
Related Links:
| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
|
|
news links
|
|
Thursday, January 15
ESA hosts China's space leaders
ESA — 5:02 am ET (1002 GMT) Starlink reportedly made free in Iran - but protesters are taking huge risks by using it
BBC — 5:02 am ET (1002 GMT) Volunteer firefighters, councils paying for Starlink connections as poor mobile reception continues across WA
Australian Broadcasting Corporation — 4:59 am ET (0959 GMT) How Iran jammed Starlink (and how Iranians are trying to get around it)
France 24 — 4:59 am ET (0959 GMT) France explores sending Eutelsat terminals to Iran amid internet blackout
Reuters — 4:57 am ET (0957 GMT) |
