Free Republic 3rd Qtr 2024 Fundraising Target: $81,000 Receipts & Pledges to-date: $76,679
94%  
Woo hoo!! And we're now over 94%!! Thank you all very much!! God bless.

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  • Astronomy Picture of the Day -- Comets and Bright Star

    01/06/2016 12:14:43 AM PST · by SunkenCiv · 3 replies
    NASA ^ | January 06, 2016 | (see photo credit)
    Explanation: This timely, telescopic, two panel mosaic spans about 10 full moons across planet Earth's predawn skies. Recorded as the year began from Tenerife, Canary Islands, near the top of the frame are the faint coma and tail of Comet Borrelly (P/19). A comet with a seven year orbital period, Borrelly's nucleus was visited by the ion propelled spacecraft Deep Space 1 near the beginning of the 21st century. Anchoring the scene at the bottom is brilliant star Arcturus (Alpha Bootes) and Comet Catalina (C/2013 US10) a first time visitor from the Oort Cloud. Catalina's yellowish dust tail extends below...