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The Burrell Schmidt images Comet Lulin
Posted 24-Feb-2009
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As February 2009
came to an end, Comet Lulin, a dusty snowball from the
outer reaches of the solar system, appeared in the night sky.
Although bright city lights make the comet difficult to see, Case
Western Reserve University astronomer Chris Mihos caught images of the
comet, shown here, using a new camera installed last year on the
university's Burrell Schmidt telescope, which is located at the Kitt
Peak National Observatory in Arizona. As the comet is warmed by the
sun, ice and dust evaporate from its surface, forming a cloud around
the comet's nucleus and leaving a trail behind. The comet moved
quickly through the sky on its way back to the outer solar system, and
by early March, it had faded from view.
An image of Comet Lulin, taken using the Burrell Schmidt telescope,
shows the cloud of gas and dust that form the coma and tail of the
comet.
Comet Lulin was moving so fast through the sky that its bright nucleus
is seen as a blurred streak in this 10-minute exposure. |
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