Starship Asterisk*

bystander wrote: ↑Sat Aug 20, 2022 6:48 pm

RET wrote: ↑Sat Aug 20, 2022 4:42 pm What's the identiry of tail-like structure extending to upper left?

If it is the dust tail, the direction would be similar to the ion tail, i.e., left (opposit to the sun). I understand that sometimes two tails draw 'V', but this time tails draw 'L', too wide angled.
As this structure seems to be along the orbit, and it extends to the opposit to the comet's moving direction, I suspect this is the dust 'trail', not tail. If so, however, it is much brighter than typical trail.

a) it's angled dust tail
b) it's bright dust trail
c) both, or, other interpretation

APOD Robot wrote: ↑Sat Aug 20, 2022 4:05 am
Explanation: ... The comet currently sports a greenish coma, long whitish dust tail, and short ion tail in this deep image ...

RET wrote: ↑Sat Aug 20, 2022 4:42 pm What's the identiry of tail-like structure extending to upper left?

If it is the dust tail, the direction would be similar to the ion tail, i.e., left (opposit to the sun). I understand that sometimes two tails draw 'V', but this time tails draw 'L', too wide angled.
As this structure seems to be along the orbit, and it extends to the opposit to the comet's moving direction, I suspect this is the dust 'trail', not tail. If so, however, it is much brighter than typical trail.

a) it's angled dust tail
b) it's bright dust trail
c) both, or, other interpretation

APOD Robot wrote: ↑Sat Aug 20, 2022 4:05 am
Explanation: ... The comet currently sports a greenish coma, long whitish dust tail, and short ion tail in this deep image ...

Ann wrote: ↑Sat Aug 20, 2022 4:59 am I find the faintness of the comet's short ion tail interesting. According to the caption, this is C/2017 K2 (PanSTARRS)'s first infall into the inner Solar system, and I would have expected this "maiden comet" to be quite gas-rich. Not so, apparently. This appears to be a comet that has always been poor in volatiles.