Posted on 01/12/2022 3:20:36 PM PST by MtnClimber
Explanation: What does Comet Leonard look like up close? Although we can't go there, imaging the comet's coma and inner tails through a small telescope gives us a good idea. As the name implies, the ion tail is made of ionized gas -- gas energized by ultraviolet light from the Sun and pushed outward by the solar wind. The solar wind is quite structured and sculpted by the Sun's complex and ever changing magnetic field. The effect of the variable solar wind combined with different gas jets venting from the comet's nucleus accounts for the tail's complex structure. Following the wind, structure in Comet Leonard's tail can be seen to move outward from the Sun even alter its wavy appearance over time. The blue color of the ion tail is dominated by recombining carbon monoxide molecules, while the green color of the coma surrounding the head of the comet is created mostly by a slight amount of recombining diatomic carbon molecules. Diatomic carbon is destroyed by sunlight in about 50 hours -- which is why its green glow does not make it far into the ion tail. The featured image was taken on January 2 from Siding Spring Observatory in Australia. Comet Leonard, presently best viewed from Earth's Southern Hemisphere, has rounded the Sun and is now headed out of the Solar System.
For more detail go to the link and click on the image for a high definition image. You can then move the magnifying glass cursor then click to zoom in and click again to zoom out. When zoomed in you can scan by moving the side bars on the bottom and right side of the image.
WOW.....Just WOW!!!! Love it.
I second that WOW! Breathtaking!
Third it! An amazingly beautiful picture!🙂🔭
Is the comets tail always pointing away from the sun or does it stream behind?
One of the items in my bucket list has always been to go to Australia and see the summer Milky Way. Not gonna happen I guess. Not only because I can’t afford it, but I have no desire to deal with the craziness there right now.
My doc might clear me to go, either.
Always away from the sun
So it could be cruising along with its tail sticking out sideways? Or even to the front?
Pretty much pointed away from the sun.
Thanks. Good example of counter intuitive process.
It is blown by the solar wind with some effects from magnetic fields.
Makes me think of the limerick about the angle of the dangle is equal to the heat…
Too bad nobody in Australia can go outside to look at it...........................
Speaking of which, the "solar wind" link is to a fantastic video!
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