Credit & Copyright: Jimmy Westlake
(Colorado
Mountain College)
Explanation:
On May 5th, while scanning western skies after sunset,
astronomer Jimmy Westlake was glad to spot a
visitor from
the outer solar system,
Comet NEAT, with his own eyes.
Taken with a normal lens, the picture records
his memorable view
of comet,
clouds, and Colorado Rocky Mountains against a
backdrop of many faint stars (most not visible to the unaided eye)
and one very bright one.
In the three minute time exposure, the comet is seen as
a fuzzy greenish smudge left of center,
with brilliant Sirius, alpha star of the constellation
Canis Major,
just above the low cloud bank on the right.
Comet NEAT (C/2001 Q4) is now near its closest aproach to
planet Earth and tonight will lie well above bright Sirius.
Look for the comet
- the third naked-eye comet in
as many weeks - after sunset in clear, dark, western skies.
1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 |
Yanvar' Fevral' Mart Aprel' Mai Iyun' Iyul' Avgust Sentyabr' Oktyabr' Noyabr' Dekabr' |
NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings, and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris. Specific rights apply.
A service of: LHEA at NASA / GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
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Publikacii s klyuchevymi slovami:
Comet NEAT - Sirius - komety - Sirius
Publikacii so slovami: Comet NEAT - Sirius - komety - Sirius | |
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