Comet Hyakutake and a Solar Flare
Explanation:
A rare coincidence was recently captured by the orbiting
SOHO spacecraft.
During the closest approach to the
Sun of
Comet Hyakutake on May 1,
SOHO
photographed the comet.
By accident -- during the time this photograph was being taken -- a
solar flare
was being ejected from the Sun. Therefore, at
the top of this false-color picture,
Comet Hyakutake is visible, while
emission to the left of the Sun is a solar flare. The Sun, at the center
of the picture, was blocked by an artificial occulter in the
LASCO
telescope, allowing objects much dimmer than the Sun to be observed. SOHO
was launched in December of 1995 and contains
many
instruments which study the Sun.
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.
