NASA’s Parker solar probe has captured a remarkable image of Comet NEOWISE that was discovered in March.
The probe, which recently flew over Venus, was able to capture the twin tails of NEOWISE, also known as C / 2020 F3, “when it was particularly active just after its closest approach to the Sun, called perihelion,” NASA wrote on its website. .
The image was taken by the probe’s WISPR instrument, which is used to take pictures of the sun’s outer atmosphere and the solar wind in visible light.
A raw image of the WISPR instrument aboard NASA’s Parker solar probe shows the comet NEOWISE on July 5, 2020, shortly after its closest approach to the Sun. The sun is out of frame on the left. The weak grid pattern near the center of the image is an artifact of the way the image is created. The small black structure near the bottom left of the image is caused by a grain of dust resting on the camera lens. (Credit: NASA / Johns Hopkins APL / Naval Research Laboratory / Parker Solar Probe / Brendan Gallagher)
NEOWISE COMET AND RARE ASTRONOMIC PHENOMENA CAPTURED IN OBSERVABLE IMAGE
Most comets have two tails, one dust tail and the other made of electrically charged molecules according to NASA. However, it is the possibility that NEOWISE may have two ion tails that has intrigued the researchers.
Data processed from the WISPR instrument on NASA’s Parker solar probe shows greater detail in the twin tails of Comet NEOWISE, as seen on July 5, 2020. The lower, wider tail is the dust tail of the kite, while the top and thinnest tail is that of the kite. ion tail (Credits: NASA / Johns Hopkins APL / Naval Research Laboratory / Parker Solar Probe / William Stenborg)
“The lower tail, which appears wide and fuzzy, is the dust tail of Comet NEOWISE, created when dust rises from the surface of the comet’s nucleus and crawls behind the comet in its orbit,” NASA added in the statement. .
“The upper tail is the ion tail, which is made up of gases that have been ionized by losing electrons in strong sunlight. These ionized gases are shaken by the solar wind, the constant flow of magnetized material from the sun, creating the ion tail that extends directly away from the sun, “NASA continued. “Parker Solar Probe images appear to show a split in the ion tail. This could mean Comet NEOWISE has two ion tails in addition to its dust tail, although scientists would need more data and analysis to confirm this possibility.” .
The comet was discovered on March 27 by NASA’s NEOWISE (Near-Field Wide-Field Infrared Reconnaissance Explorer) space telescope.
A COMET IS VISIBLE THIS MONTH: NASA HAS THESE TIPS FOR SKYWATCHERS
The comet has been visible to the naked eye, NASA said on its website.
“In approximately the middle of the month, the comet is visible at about 10 degrees above the northeast horizon (the width of its extended fist) in the hour before sunrise,” the space agency added. “From mid-July onward, it is better to view it as a night object, rising higher and higher above the northwest horizon.”
NASA notes that the comet’s closest approach to Earth will be on July 22, at a distance of approximately 64 million miles.
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Fox News’ James Rogers contributed to this story.
