CANCEL THE EULOGY ... FOR NOW: Comet ISON flew through the suns atmosphere on Nov. 28th and the encounter did not go well for the icy comet. Just before perihelion (closest approach to the sun) the comet rapidly faded and appeared to disintegrate. This prompted reports of ISONs demise. However, a fraction of the comet might have survived. Click on the image below to see what emerged from Comet ISONs brush with solar fire: In the movie, Comet ISON seems to be falling apart as it approaches the sun. Indeed, researchers working with NASAs Solar Dynamics Observatory said they saw nothing along the track that ISON was expected to follow through the suns atmosphere. Nevertheless, something has emerged. Whether this is a small scorched fragment of Comet ISONs nucleus or perhaps a headless comet--a stream of debris marking the remains of the comets disintegrated core--remains to be seen.
Posted on: Fri, 29 Nov 2013 06:11:27 +0000
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