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Credit & Copyright: Michael
Jager and Gerald Rhemann
Explanation:
Early morning risers with a clear and unobstructed eastern horizon
can enjoy the
sight
of Comet McNaught (C/2006 P1)
in dawn skies over the next few days.
Discovered in August by R. H. McNaught
(Siding Spring Survey)
the comet has grown bright enough to see with the unaided
eye but will soon be lost in the glare of the Sun.
Still, by January 11 sun-staring spacecraft SOHO should be able to
offer web-based views as the
comet
heads toward a perihelion
passage inside the orbit of Mercury.
This
image captures the new naked-eye
comet
at about 2nd
magnitude
in twilight skies near sunset on January 3rd.
After rounding the Sun and emerging from the solar glare later
this month,
Comet
McNaught could be even brighter.
APOD Editor to Discuss "Best
of APOD 2006" Pictures in NYC on January 5
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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
Publications with keywords: comet
Publications with words: comet
See also:
- APOD: 2024 April 17 Á Total Eclipse and Comets
- APOD: 2024 April 8 Á The Changing Ion Tail of Comet Pons Brooks
- Comet Pons-Brooks at Night
- APOD: 2024 March 18 Á Comet Pons Brooks Swirling Coma
- Comet 12P/Pons Brooks in Northern Spring
- Structure in the Tail of Comet 12P/Pons Brooks
- The Snows of Churyumov Gerasimenko