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Credit & Copyright: Charles Bracken
Explanation:
With its closest approach to planet Earth scheduled for November 14,
this Comet ATLAS (C/2020 M3) was discovered just this summer,
another comet found by the NASA funded
Asteroid
Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System.
It won't get as bright
as
Comet NEOWISE
but it can still be spotted using binoculars, as it
currently
sweeps through the familiar constellation of Orion.
This telephoto field from November 8,
blends exposures registered on the comet with exposures
registered on Orion's stars.
It creates an effectively deep skyview that shows colors and details you
can't quite see though, even in binoculars.
The comet's telltale greenish coma is toward the upper left, above
Orion's three belt stars lined-up across the frame below center.
You'll also probably spot the Orion Nebula, and famous Horsehead Nebula
in the stunning field of view.
Of course one of
Orion's belt stars is nearly 2,000 light-years away.
On November 14,
this comet ATLAS
will fly a mere 2.9 light-minutes from Earth.
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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 June 4 Á Comet Pons Brooks Develops Opposing Tails
- 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