An Extreme UltraViolet View of the Comet
Credit & Copyright: M. Mumma
(GSFC)
et al.,
EUVE Support Team,
NASA
Explanation:
As the Sun floods
Comet Hyakutake with
ultraviolet light gases in the coma scatter
the radiation and fluoresce making the
comet a bright source in the ultraviolet sky.
The above image made using data from NASA's
Extreme UltraViolet Explorer (EUVE)
satellite, represents the intensity of the comet in this
invisible high energy band in false color.
The image is about 3/4 of a degree high and 2 degress wide and
offers insights to the composition of this visitor from the
distant solar system that can be obtained from the
highest energy bands of the
ultraviolet spectrum.
The International Ultraviolet Explorer (IUE)
satellite has also
examined ultraviolet light from the comet and
now reports the
detection of many bands of
molecular emission particularly
those due to molecular carbon (C2), carbon monoxide (CO) and
caron dioxide (C02) ions as well as indications of a rapid increase
in the production of water (H20).
Latest Comet Hyakutake images:
JPL,
Fayetteville
Observer-Times,
NASA's Night of
the Comet,
ICSTARS,
Crni Vrh Obs.,
Cent. Mich U.
Authors & editors:
Robert Nemiroff
(MTU) &
Jerry Bonnell
(USRA)
NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings,
and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris.
Specific
rights apply.
A service of:
LHEA at
NASA /
GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
