Astronomy Picture of the Day

   [1]Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our
      fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation
                    written by a professional astronomer.

                               2022 August 20
    [2]See Explanation. Clicking on the picture will download the highest
                        resolution version available.

                          Stardust and Comet Tails
       Image Credit & [3]Copyright: Rolando Ligustri ([4]CARA Project,
                                  [5]CAST)

   Explanation: Heading for its closest approach to the Sun, or
   perihelion, on December 19 comet [6]C/2017 K2 (PanSTARRS) remains a
   sight for telescopic observers as it sweeps through planet Earth's
   skies in the constellation Scorpius. The comet currently [7]sports a
   greenish coma, long whitish dust tail, and short ion tail in this deep
   image from August 18. The 2x3 degree wide field of view includes part
   of the dusty nebula IC 4592 reflecting blue starlight. Also known as
   the [8]Blue Horsehead Nebula, IC 4592 is about 400 light-years distant
   while the comet is just under 17 light-minutes away. First spotted at a
   distance well beyond the orbit of Saturn [9]C/2017 K2 is on its maiden
   voyage to the inner solar system, a pristine visitor from the
   [10]remote Oort cloud.

                    Tomorrow's picture: cosmic crustacean
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    Authors & editors: [22]Robert Nemiroff ([23]MTU) & [24]Jerry Bonnell
                                 ([25]UMCP)
          NASA Official: Phillip Newman [26]Specific rights apply.
              [27]NASA Web Privacy Policy and Important Notices
                A service of: [28]ASD at [29]NASA / [30]GSFC,
                         [31]NASA Science Activation
                           & [32]Michigan Tech. U.

References

   1. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/archivepix.html
   2. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/image/2208/C2017K2_220818.jpg
   3. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/about_apod.html#srapply
   4. http://cara.uai.it/
   5. http://www.castfvg.it/
   6. https://earthsky.org/astronomy-essentials/large-comet-c-2017-k2-panstarrs-summer-2022/
   7. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap150721.html
   8. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap210705.html
   9. https://hubblesite.org/contents/news-releases/2017/news-2017-40.html
  10. https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/solar-system/oort-cloud/overview/
  11. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap220819.html
  12. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/archivepix.html
  13. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/apsubmit2015.html
  14. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/aptree.html
  15. https://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/apod/apod_search
  16. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/calendar/allyears.html
  17. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod.rss
  18. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/edlinks.html
  19. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/about_apod.html
  20. http://asterisk.apod.com/discuss_apod.php?date=220820
  21. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap220821.html
  22. http://www.phy.mtu.edu/faculty/Nemiroff.html
  23. http://www.phy.mtu.edu/
  24. https://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/htmltest/jbonnell/www/bonnell.html
  25. http://www.astro.umd.edu/
  26. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/about_apod.html#srapply
  27. https://www.nasa.gov/about/highlights/HP_Privacy.html
  28. https://astrophysics.gsfc.nasa.gov/
  29. https://www.nasa.gov/
  30. https://www.nasa.gov/centers/goddard/
  31. https://science.nasa.gov/learners
  32. http://www.mtu.edu/