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Astronomy Picture of the Day

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.

See Explanation. Clicking on the picture will download the highest resolution version available.

Seven Jets from Comet Hale-Bopp

Explanation: Explanation : Comet Hale-Bopp is turning out to be quite unusual. One reason is the great amount of jet activity at such a large distance from the Sun . In the above false-color image , no less than seven jets can be seen emanating from Hale-Bopp 's coma . As a comet nears the Sun , it's surface warms causing jets of previously trapped gas and dust to stream away from the nucleus. Astronomers continue to study Comet Hale-Bopp 's unusual jet activity and wonder how much about the early Solar System Hale-Bopp will teach them, and how bright Hale-Bopp will ultimately become .

Date November 13, 1996
Credit Seven Jets from Comet Hale-Bopp
Credit: N. Thomas (MPAE) et al., 1.5-m La Silla Telescope, ESO
Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff (MTU) & Jerry Bonnell (UMCP)
A service of: ASD at NASA / GSFC,
NASA Science Activation & Michigan Tech. U.