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Astronomy Picture of the Day -- Comet PanSTARRS and a Crescent Moon
NASA ^ | July 20, 2015 | (see photo credit)

Posted on 07/20/2015 7:06:04 AM PDT by SunkenCiv

Explanation: A comet has brightened quickly and unexpectedly. Discovered last year, Comet C/2014 Q1 (PanSTARRS) is expected to be visible now for a few days to the unaided eye, just after sunset, from some locations. The comet rounded the Sun on July 6 and apparently has shed quite a bit of gas and dust. Today it is now as close as it will ever get to the Earth, which is another factor in its recent great apparent brightness and the large angular extent of its tails. In the featured image taken two days ago, Comet PanSTARRS is seen sporting a short white dust tail fading to the right, and a long blue ion tail pointing away from the recently set Sun. A crescent moon dominates the image center. Tomorrow, Comet PannSTARRS will pass only 7 degrees away from a bright Jupiter, with even brighter Venus nearby. Due to its proximity to the Sun, the comet and its tails may best be seen in the sunset din with binoculars or cameras using long-duration exposures.

July 20, 2015

(Excerpt) Read more at 129.164.179.22 ...


TOPICS: Astronomy; Astronomy Picture of the Day; Science
KEYWORDS: apod; astronomy; cometc2014q1; panstarrs; science
[Credit and Copyright: Yuri Beletsky (Las Campanas Observatory, Carnegie Institution)]

1 posted on 07/20/2015 7:06:05 AM PDT by SunkenCiv
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To: lbryce

And an extra, thanks lbryce!
Credit: Amit Kamble

Credit: Amit Kamble

2 posted on 07/20/2015 7:06:52 AM PDT by SunkenCiv (What do we want? REGIME CHANGE! When do we want it? NOW)
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To: brytlea; cripplecreek; decimon; bigheadfred; KoRn; Grammy; steelyourfaith; Mmogamer; dayglored; ...
The Big One

3 posted on 07/20/2015 7:07:35 AM PDT by SunkenCiv (What do we want? REGIME CHANGE! When do we want it? NOW)
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To: SunkenCiv

Cool Pics!


4 posted on 07/20/2015 7:14:33 AM PDT by left that other site (You shall know the Truth, and The Truth Shall Set You Free.)
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To: SunkenCiv

That is really beautiful, Mr. Civilizations.

Thank you for the post, link, and ping, Sir.


5 posted on 07/20/2015 4:33:03 PM PDT by TheOldLady (Pray for Obama. Psalm 109:8 - Look it up. I miss the Gipper. Wish we still had someone like him.)
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