Glowing green, it will come within 38million miles of Earth, the closest it has ever been, and about the same distance away as Mars. Lulin, photographed here by an astronomer in Arizona, was discovered by a 19-year-old student from a photo taken at Lulin Observatory-Taiwan, in 2007. The spectacular comet will be visible to the naked eye over the next few nights. Its colour comes from the gases that make up its Jupiter-sized atmosphere. The stellar traveller is very active, shedding nearly 800 gallons of water each second on its journey around the Sun. That's enough liquid to fill an Olympic-sized swimming pool in less than 15 minutes. Jets from the nucleus throw out cyanogen, a poisonous gas found in many comets, and diatomic carbon, which glow green when lit by sunlight. It could be visible any time after dark. Nasa said: 'Dark country skies will be required. But no one can say for sure. This appears to be Lulin's first visit to the inner solar system and its first exposure to intense sunlight. Surprises are possible.' (Daily Mail)
Monday, 23 February 2009
Green light for a close encounter: 'Jupiter-sized' comet to streak past Earth tonight
We have known of its existence for only two years. But if you raise your eyes heavenwards tonight, you might just catch a glimpse of the comet Lulin.
Glowing green, it will come within 38million miles of Earth, the closest it has ever been, and about the same distance away as Mars. Lulin, photographed here by an astronomer in Arizona, was discovered by a 19-year-old student from a photo taken at Lulin Observatory-Taiwan, in 2007. The spectacular comet will be visible to the naked eye over the next few nights. Its colour comes from the gases that make up its Jupiter-sized atmosphere. The stellar traveller is very active, shedding nearly 800 gallons of water each second on its journey around the Sun. That's enough liquid to fill an Olympic-sized swimming pool in less than 15 minutes. Jets from the nucleus throw out cyanogen, a poisonous gas found in many comets, and diatomic carbon, which glow green when lit by sunlight. It could be visible any time after dark. Nasa said: 'Dark country skies will be required. But no one can say for sure. This appears to be Lulin's first visit to the inner solar system and its first exposure to intense sunlight. Surprises are possible.' (Daily Mail)
Glowing green, it will come within 38million miles of Earth, the closest it has ever been, and about the same distance away as Mars. Lulin, photographed here by an astronomer in Arizona, was discovered by a 19-year-old student from a photo taken at Lulin Observatory-Taiwan, in 2007. The spectacular comet will be visible to the naked eye over the next few nights. Its colour comes from the gases that make up its Jupiter-sized atmosphere. The stellar traveller is very active, shedding nearly 800 gallons of water each second on its journey around the Sun. That's enough liquid to fill an Olympic-sized swimming pool in less than 15 minutes. Jets from the nucleus throw out cyanogen, a poisonous gas found in many comets, and diatomic carbon, which glow green when lit by sunlight. It could be visible any time after dark. Nasa said: 'Dark country skies will be required. But no one can say for sure. This appears to be Lulin's first visit to the inner solar system and its first exposure to intense sunlight. Surprises are possible.' (Daily Mail)
