CANCEL THE EULOGY ... FOR NOW: Comet ISON flew through the sun’s atmosphere on Nov. 28th and the encounter did not go well for the icy comet. Just before perihelion (closest approach to the sun) the comet rapidly faded and appeared to disintegrate. This prompted reports of ISON’s demise. However, a fraction of the comet might have survived.
The comet has most likely disintegrated under the high heat and gravitational stress of the Sun on Nov. 28, 2013. It is not visible in Solar Dynamics Observatory footage and NASA scientists confirmed that they do not see it.
Credit: NASA / SDO / SOHO / Mash Mix: SPACE.com
http://www.space.com/23777-rip-comet-ison-icy-visitor-missing-after-sun-flyby-video.html
