comet

This sequence shows how the nucleus of Comet C/2014 UN271 (Bernardinelli-Bernstein) was isolated from a vast shell of dust and gas surrounding the solid icy nucleus. On the left is a photo of the comet taken by the NASA Hubble Space Telescope's Wide Field Camera 3 on January 8, 2022. A model of the coma (middle panel) was obtained by means of fitting the surface brightness profile assembled from the observed image on the left. This allowed for the coma to be subtracted, unveiling the point-like glow from the nucleus. Combined with radio telescope data, astronomers arrived at a precise measurement of the nucleus size. That's no small feat from something about 2 billion miles away. Though the nucleus is estimated to be as large as 85 miles across, it is so far away it cannot be resolved by Hubble. Its size is derived from its reflectivity as measured by Hubble. The nucleus is estimated to be as black as charcoal. The nucleus area is gleaned from radio observations. Credits: NASA, ESA, Man-To Hui (Macau University of Science and Technology), David Jewitt (UCLA); Image processing: Alyssa Pagan (STScI)

Largest Comet ever seen is coming toward Earth

Saima Baig Comments Closed 0 like astronomy, astrophysics, Images, News, Science

The largest comet ever seen by Hubble Space Telescope is hurtling towards Earth. This behemoth has a diameter of 80 miles (129 km) across, with a nucleus 50 times bigger than normal, which according t...

a new mission by ESA to a intercept a comet

Another comet, another mission by the European Space Agency

Saima Baig 5 Comments 0 like astronomy, News, Science

In 2014, the European Space Agency (ESA) successfully launched Rosetta to 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko and we all held our breaths as its lander Philae made its way to the comet. Philae did not last long...