APOD: Long Tailed Comet SWAN (2020 May 08)

Comments and questions about the APOD on the main view screen.
Post Reply
User avatar
APOD Robot
Otto Posterman
Posts: 5344
Joined: Fri Dec 04, 2009 3:27 am
Contact:

APOD: Long Tailed Comet SWAN (2020 May 08)

Post by APOD Robot » Fri May 08, 2020 4:10 am

Image Long Tailed Comet SWAN

Explanation: Blowing in the solar wind the spectacular ion tail of Comet SWAN (C/2020 F8) extends far across this 10 degree wide telephoto field of view. Captured on May 2 its greenish coma was about 6 light-minutes from Earth. The pretty background starfield lies near the border of the constellations Cetus and Aquarius. This comet SWAN was discovered at home by Australian amateur Michael Mattiazzo by checking images from the Sun-staring SOHO spacecraft's SWAN (Solar Wind ANisotropies) camera. The comet has now become just visible to the naked-eye as it sweeps from southern to northern skies. Appearing in morning twilight near the eastern horizon, Comet SWAN will make its closest approach to planet Earth on May 12 and reach perihelion on May 27. <br><br>

<< Previous APOD This Day in APOD Next APOD >>

User avatar
Ann
4725 Å
Posts: 13371
Joined: Sat May 29, 2010 5:33 am

Re: APOD: Long Tailed Comet SWAN (2020 May 08)

Post by Ann » Fri May 08, 2020 9:37 am



















Beautiful! If Comet SWAN had been some ten times brighter, it would have been another Hyakutake! :D

Ann
Color Commentator

User avatar
orin stepanek
Plutopian
Posts: 8200
Joined: Wed Jul 27, 2005 3:41 pm
Location: Nebraska

Re: APOD: Long Tailed Comet SWAN (2020 May 08)

Post by orin stepanek » Fri May 08, 2020 10:49 am

What a beauty! 8-) :D
Orin

Smile today; tomorrow's another day!

User avatar
Chris Peterson
Abominable Snowman
Posts: 18108
Joined: Wed Jan 31, 2007 11:13 pm
Location: Guffey, Colorado, USA
Contact:

Re: APOD: Long Tailed Comet SWAN (2020 May 08)

Post by Chris Peterson » Fri May 08, 2020 12:55 pm

Ann wrote: Fri May 08, 2020 9:37 am Beautiful! If Comet SWAN had been some ten times brighter, it would have been another Hyakutake! :D
When I saw Hyakutake, its tail was at least 60° to the naked eye- covering a third of the sky, although the impression was that its tail was at least half of the sky!
Chris

*****************************************
Chris L Peterson
Cloudbait Observatory
https://www.cloudbait.com

E Fish
Science Officer
Posts: 135
Joined: Thu Mar 09, 2017 2:29 pm

Re: APOD: Long Tailed Comet SWAN (2020 May 08)

Post by E Fish » Fri May 08, 2020 2:24 pm

Ann wrote: Fri May 08, 2020 9:37 am
Beautiful! If Comet SWAN had been some ten times brighter, it would have been another Hyakutake! :D

Ann
Oh, I remember getting up at 3 a.m. to see Hyakutake when I was in high school. My first comet! :)

User avatar
neufer
Vacationer at Tralfamadore
Posts: 18805
Joined: Mon Jan 21, 2008 1:57 pm
Location: Alexandria, Virginia

Re: APOD: Long Tailed Comet SWAN (2020 May 08)

Post by neufer » Fri May 08, 2020 2:31 pm

Click to play embedded YouTube video.
Chris Peterson wrote: Fri May 08, 2020 12:55 pm
Ann wrote: Fri May 08, 2020 9:37 am
Beautiful! If Comet SWAN had been some ten times brighter, it would have been another Hyakutake! :D
When I saw Hyakutake, its tail was at least 60° to the naked eye- covering a third of the sky, although the impression was that its tail was at least half of the sky!
Art Neuendorffer

starsurfer
Stellar Cartographer
Posts: 5306
Joined: Thu Mar 15, 2012 7:25 pm

Re: APOD: Long Tailed Comet SWAN (2020 May 08)

Post by starsurfer » Fri May 08, 2020 3:06 pm

For anyone wondering, the galaxy is the WLM.

Boomer12k
:---[===] *
Posts: 2691
Joined: Sun Apr 22, 2007 12:07 am

Re: APOD: Long Tailed Comet SWAN (2020 May 08)

Post by Boomer12k » Fri May 08, 2020 10:59 pm

Awesome...

:---[===] *

Post Reply