Related topics: sun

Comet Lovejoy shows asymmetric behavior at perihelion

(Phys.org)—Indian astronomers have recently conducted spectrographic observations of long-period Comet Lovejoy to study its gas emission. They found that this comet showcases an asymmetric behavior at perihelion and an ...

Spacecraft discovers thousands of doomed comets

For an astronomer, discovering a comet can be the highlight of a lifetime. Great comets carry the names of their discoverers into history. Comet Halley, Comet Lovejoy, Comet Hale-Bopp are just a few examples….

In unexpected discovery, comet contains alcohol, sugar

Comet Lovejoy lived up to its name by releasing large amounts of alcohol as well as a type of sugar into space, according to new observations by an international team. The discovery marks the first time ethyl alcohol, the ...

Comet Lovejoy does the polar plunge

Lots of towns hold a polar plunge fundraising event in the winter. Duluth, Minnesota's version, where participants jump in Lake Superior every February, might just be the coldest. Comet Lovejoy's a season behind, but sure ...

Subaru Telescope observes rapid changes in a comet's plasma tail

Images from a December 2013 observation of the comet C/2013 R1 (Lovejoy) reveal clear details about rapidly changing activity in that comet's plasma tail. To get this image, astronomers used Subaru Telescope's wide-field ...

Comet Finlay surprise outburst visible in binoculars

Lost sleep at night, fingers tapping on the keyboard by day. Darn comets are keeping me busy! But of course that's a good problem. Comet 15P/Finlay, which had been languishing in the western sky at dusk at magnitude +10, ...

Image: NASA's NEOWISE captures Comet C/2014 Q2 (Lovejoy)

Comet C/2014 Q2 (Lovejoy) is one of more than 32 comets imaged by NASA's NEOWISE mission from December 2013 to December 2014. This image of comet Lovejoy combines a series of observations made in November 2013, when comet ...

How to find and make the most of comet Lovejoy

Comet Q2 Lovejoy passed closest to Earth on January 7th and has been putting on a great show this past week. Glowing at magnitude +4 with a bluish coma nearly as big as the Full Moon, the comet's easy to see with the naked ...

Comet Lovejoy glows brightest during mid-January

Comet Lovejoy, already being tracked by backyard astronomers worldwide, is entering its best and brightest two weeks for viewing. From about January 7th through 24th the comet is predicted to be glowing at 4th magnitude—bright ...

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