APOD: Rosetta's Comet in Gemini (2021 Nov 13)

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APOD: Rosetta's Comet in Gemini (2021 Nov 13)

Post by APOD Robot » Sat Nov 13, 2021 5:05 am

Image Rosetta's Comet in Gemini

Explanation: Returning along its 6.4 year orbit, periodic comet Churyumov-Gerasimenko (67P) is caught in this telescopic frame from November 7. Sweeping past background stars in the constellation Gemini the comet's dusty tail stretches toward the upper right to Upsilon Geminorum. Also known as Pollux, Beta Geminorum, Gemini's brightest star, shines just off the upper left edge of the field-of-view. Churyumov-Gerasimenko reached its 2021 perihelion or closest approach to the Sun on November 2. At perigee, its closest approach to planet Earth on November 12, this comet was about 0.42 astronomical units away, though it remains too faint to be seen by eye alone. The well-studied comet was explored by robots from planet Earth during its last trip through the inner solar system. It's now famous as the final resting place for the historic Rosetta spacecraft and Philae lander.

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Ann
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Re: APOD: Rosetta's Comet in Gemini (2021 Nov 13)

Post by Ann » Sat Nov 13, 2021 6:04 am



Holy halo, Batman! That comet is a saint! I'll zap it!

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Re: APOD: Rosetta's Comet in Gemini (2021 Nov 13)

Post by orin stepanek » Sat Nov 13, 2021 12:05 pm

67P_211107.jpg
20190605_67p_20150910_mtp020_o-g-b_cleaned_f840.jpg
Orin

Smile today; tomorrow's another day!

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Re: APOD: Rosetta's Comet in Gemini (2021 Nov 13)

Post by orin stepanek » Sat Nov 13, 2021 11:33 pm

Orin

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Re: APOD: Rosetta's Comet in Gemini (2021 Nov 13)

Post by G.R.L. Cowan » Sat Nov 13, 2021 11:40 pm

It's remarkable how blue it has made the background stars.

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Re: APOD: Rosetta's Comet in Gemini (2021 Nov 13)

Post by Chris Peterson » Sun Nov 14, 2021 12:37 am

G.R.L. Cowan wrote: Sat Nov 13, 2021 11:40 pm It's remarkable how blue it has made the background stars.
It hasn't. That's a processing artifact.
Chris

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