Credit & Copyright: Dan Bartlett
Explanation:
Comet 10P/Tempel 2
orbits the Sun once every 5.4 years.
Currently visible in binoculars or small telescopes toward
the constellation Capricornus, the
periodic
comet is captured in this sharp telescopic
image from July 11
sporting a bright nuclear region and pretty greenish coma.
Remarkably, a thin dust trail,
not a typical dust tail, is also seen extending both east and west of
the Tempel 2 nucleus.
Unlike a
comet dust tail,
which tends to temporarily
fan out in a direction away from the Sun, this dust trail
is due to the residual dust
shed during
many past
orbits along this ancient periodic comet's orbital plane.
In fact, Tempel 2's dust trail may get a little narrower and brighter
from our perspective as Earth crosses through the comet's orbital plane
on July 20.
Comet 10P/Tempel 2
will reach a perihelion on August 2, and make
its closest approach to Earth on August 3.
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Январь Февраль Март Апрель Май Июнь Июль Август Сентябрь Октябрь Ноябрь Декабрь |
NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings, and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris. Specific rights apply.
A service of: LHEA at NASA / GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
Based on Astronomy Picture
Of the Day
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