cicero2k: Agreed. More like a candle at 50 yards. Who are these artists?
I believe what they are portraying is how the comet Elenin is going to look when it comes directly between Earth and the Sun on a month or so, and it's tail points directly at us (it's not just size - the sun isn't usually illustrated with such distinct rays). After all, just because the article is about something apparently completely different, doesn't mean they should miss an opportunity for subliminal messaging.
Here is the path and the name of the photo file;
http://images.nationalgeographic.com/wpf/media-live/photos/000/388/cache/three-new-kuiper-bodies-found-possible-plutos_38827_600x450.jpg
Nothing there about comets.
Besides, which is the body in the foreground...the Earth, the Sun or the comet Elenin?
None of the above. Additionally, the words 'comet' or 'Elenin' do not appear in the article.