Left: a raw image of Comet McNaught.
Middle: image processed to reveal spiral jets of gas from the nucleus.
Right: A similarly processed image of the dust in the inner coma, showing a sunward plume and the dust being swept back into the tail. The tail direction is roughly downward.
Reminds one of From Exodus to Arthur and the origins of the swastika.
Separate observations called spectroscopy, which split light into its various wavelengths to reveal the comet's elemental composition, shows signs of cyanide, carbon, and ammonia-all expected. The researchers were surprised to discover sodium, however. "Measurements showed this sodium emission to be extending over more than 100,000 kilometers [62,000 miles] in the tail direction and fading rapidly with time," said ESO scientist Emmanuel Jehin. Narrow sodium tails have been detected in only a handful of great comets-those that come close to the Sun and therefore are the most active... Sodium has also been observed around Mercury and the Moon forming very tenuous atmospheres.I suppose some people will take this news with a grain of, uh, never mind...
| Catastrophism ping list | ||
| · join · view topics · view or post blog · bookmark · post new topic · | ||
If you want on or off the Electric Universe Ping List, Freepmail me.
Comet McNaught now visible on SOHO satellite
SOlar and Heliospheric Observatory | 11 JAN 07 | TXnMA
Posted on 01/12/2007 12:13:48 AM EST by TXnMA
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1766326/posts