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.

                                 2024 June 4
   [2]A dark star filled sky is shown with the wisps extending the length
   of the image. The wisps are the two tails of Comet 12P. A particularly
     bright star is visible near the bottom of the frame. Please see the
                 explanation for more detailed information.

                  Comet Pons-Brooks Develops Opposing Tails
        Image Credit & Copyright: [3]Rolando Ligustri & Lukas Demetz

   Explanation: Why does [4]Comet Pons-Brooks now have tails pointing in
   opposite directions? The most [5]spectacular tail is the blue-glowing
   [6]ion tail that is visible flowing down the image. The ion tail is
   [7]pushed directly out from the Sun by the [8]solar wind. On the upper
   right is the glowing central coma of [9]Comet 12P/Pons–Brooks. Fanning
   out from the [10]coma, mostly to the left, is the comet's [11]dust
   tail. Pushed out and slowed down by the [12]pressure of sunlight, the
   dust tail tends to trail the comet along its orbit and, from [13]some
   viewing angles, can appear [14]opposite to the ion tail. The distant,
   bright star [15]Alpha Leporis is seen at the bottom of the [16]featured
   image captured last week from [17]Namibia. Two days ago, the comet
   passed its closest to the [18]Earth and is now best visible from
   southern skies as it dims and [19]glides back to the outer [20]Solar
   System.

                     Tomorrow's picture: mystery martian
     __________________________________________________________________

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    Authors & editors: [32]Robert Nemiroff ([33]MTU) & [34]Jerry Bonnell
                                 ([35]UMCP)
          NASA Official: Amber Straughn [36]Specific rights apply.
            [37]NASA Web Privacy, [38]Accessibility, [39]Notices;
                A service of: [40]ASD at [41]NASA / [42]GSFC,
                         [43]NASA Science Activation
                           & [44]Michigan Tech. U.

References

   1. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/archivepix.html
   2. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/image/2406/Comet12P_Ligustri_1601.jpg
   3. https://www.instagram.com/rolandoligustri/
   4. https://spaceplace.nasa.gov/comets/
   5. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap210308.html
   6. https://astronomy.swin.edu.au/cosmos/c/Cometary+Gas+Tail
   7. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap220110.html
   8. https://science.nasa.gov/resource/the-solar-wind-across-our-solar-system/
   9. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/12P/Pons–Brooks
  10. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coma_(comet)
  11. https://astronomy.swin.edu.au/cosmos/C/Cometary+Dust+Tail
  12. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poynting–Robertson_effect
  13. https://spaceplace.nasa.gov/comets/en/anatomy-of-a-comet.en.jpg
  14. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap190624.html
  15. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alpha_Leporis
  16. https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=8297831726911868&set=a.100321199996336
  17. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Namibia
  18. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap220206.html
  19. https://youtu.be/L9mrTdYhOHg
  20. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap220911.html
  21. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap240603.html
  22. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/archivepix.html
  23. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/apsubmit2015.html
  24. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/aptree.html
  25. https://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/apod/apod_search
  26. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/calendar/allyears.html
  27. https://apod.com/feed.rss
  28. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/edlinks.html
  29. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/about_apod.html
  30. https://asterisk.apod.com/discuss_apod.php?date=240604
  31. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap240605.html
  32. http://www.phy.mtu.edu/faculty/Nemiroff.html
  33. http://www.phy.mtu.edu/
  34. https://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/htmltest/jbonnell/www/bonnell.html
  35. http://www.astro.umd.edu/
  36. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/about_apod.html#srapply
  37. https://www.nasa.gov/about/highlights/HP_Privacy.html
  38. https://www.nasa.gov/general/accessibility/
  39. https://www.nasa.gov/privacy/
  40. https://astrophysics.gsfc.nasa.gov/
  41. https://www.nasa.gov/
  42. https://www.nasa.gov/centers/goddard/
  43. https://science.nasa.gov/learners
  44. http://www.mtu.edu/