Explanation: Currently, comet PANSTARRS is passing nearly in front of the galaxy Andromeda. Coincidentally, both comet and galaxy appear now to be just about the same angular size. In physical size, even though Comet PANSTARRS is currently the largest object in the Solar System with a tail spanning about 15 times the diameter of the Sun, it is still about 70 billion times smaller than the Andromeda galaxy (M31). The above image was taken a few days ago near Syktyvkar, Russia. As C/2011 L4 (PANSTARRS) on the lower left recedes from the Sun and dims, it is returning to the northerly direction whence it came. When the comet will return is currently unknown, although humans may have merged with computers by then.

Gallery: Comet PANSTARRS

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Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff (MTU) & Jerry Bonnell (USRA)
NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings, and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris. Specific rights apply.
A service of: LHEA at NASA / GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.

Publikacii s klyuchevymi slovami: komety - Tumannost' Andromedy Publikacii so slovami: komety - Tumannost' Andromedy
Sm. takzhe: NGC 206 i zvezdnye oblaka Andromedy Meteor i kometa Neobychnye hvosty komety Czyczin'shan'-ATLAS Kometa Czyczin'shan'-ATLAS nad Dolomitovymi Al'pami Kometa Czyczin'shan'-ATLAS nad Kaliforniei Kometa Czyczin'shan'-ATLAS uletaet Pochti vsya kometa Czyczin'shan'-ATLAS Vse publikacii na tu zhe temu >>