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Astronomy Picture of the Day 3-26-02
NASA ^
| 3-26-02
| Robert Nemiroff and Jerry Bonnell
Posted on 03/26/2002 5:05:30 AM PST by petuniasevan
Astronomy Picture of the Day
Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer.
2002 March 26
Comet Ikeya-Zhang Over Tenerife
Credit & Copyright: Francisco A. Rodriguez Ramirez (AstroEduca)
Explanation: Comet Ikeya-Zhang has become bright enough to stand out in the night sky. Discovered February 1, the comet has now just rounded the Sun and has likely attained its peak brightness. The comet appears near the Sun and over the next week moves from the evening sky (just after sunset) to the morning sky (just before sunrise). Many observers report a current brightness approaching third magnitude. The comet is actually a giant snowball created during the early days of our Solar System and pushed out by the gravitational tugs by massive planets. Comet Ikeya-Zhang has been back to the inner Solar System at least once before in 1661. Above, the comet was photographed above Tenerife, one the Canary Islands, Spain.
TOPICS: Astronomy Picture of the Day; Miscellaneous; Science
KEYWORDS: astronomy; canaryislands; comet; dust; gas; ice; photography; snowball; solarsystem; space; spain; sun; tail
The bright "star" to the left of the comet is the planet Mars.
The comet's not too hard to find, especially with binoculars,
but it will disappear into the sunset glow in a few days.
Then Ikeya-Zhang will make its reappearance in the morning sky.
To: MozartLover; Joan912; NovemberCharlie; snowfox; Dawgsquat; viligantcitizen; theDentist; grlfrnd...
APOD PING!
To: petuniasevan
Pinging back at you. This is such a wonderful area, petuniasevan!
3
posted on
03/26/2002 5:19:07 AM PST
by
Slip18
To: petuniasevan; MadIvan
Wonderful! May I make a wish on it?
4
posted on
03/26/2002 5:30:02 AM PST
by
2Trievers
To: petuniasevan
Neat!
5
posted on
03/26/2002 5:44:43 AM PST
by
aomagrat
To: MississippiDeltaDawg
Check this one out. WOW! Get me a telescope fer Christmas?
6
posted on
03/26/2002 7:43:58 AM PST
by
Dawgsquat
To: petuniasevan
Thanks for the flag.
To: Dawgsquat
Hmm ...
To: 2Trievers;coteblanche
Can y'all see this at night?
9
posted on
03/27/2002 12:50:43 PM PST
by
Graewoulf
To: MississippiDeltaDawg
Check this one out. WOW! Get me a telescope fer Christmas? (Dawgsquat)
Hmmm.. (Miss.Delta Dawg)Aww, come on Delta Dawg!
10
posted on
03/27/2002 1:04:20 PM PST
by
SuziQ
To: Graewoulf
I see stars every night Woulfie, whether they are out or not ... am I doing something wrong?
Comment #12 Removed by Moderator
To: SuziQ
Shhhhh ... it's nine months away, I don't want to blow a sooprize now!
Actually, I caught him admiring a beautiful telescope in the window of the Discovery Channel store about a month ago. Now to save the nickels and pennies!
To: petuniasevan
Would you mind adding me to your ping list?
To: MississippiDeltaDawg
Actually, I caught him admiring a beautiful telescope in the window of the Discovery Channel store about a month ago. Now to save the nickels and pennies!OOOWEE, those are awesome! We're doing astronomy in homeschool year after next, and we're thinking St. Nick might just have to drop on down OUR chimney!!
15
posted on
03/27/2002 8:21:38 PM PST
by
SuziQ
To: PoisedWoman
Do you see this in Seattle?
To: Graewoulf
WE probably won't see this in Seattle. We see very little here because of cloud cover approximately 24/7. Maybe tonight, as it's miraculously sunny now. Thanks for reminder.
To: Graewoulf
Dang, we are usually clear here, but tonight it's going to rain.
Will you be able to see it, Grae?
18
posted on
03/28/2002 12:04:13 PM PST
by
Slip18
To: PoisedWoman; Slip18
Yes, it is visible just above where the Sun sets, as soon as the night sky get just slightly dark. Be quick as in 45 minutes it is gone.
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