화성 옆을 통과하는 아이손 혜성

 

 

 

ISON혜성은 얼마나 인상적인 혜성이 될까?

아무도 이를 확신하진 못하지만 불행히도 이 혜성은 내행성계로 진입할수록 밝기의 증가속도는 이전의 수많은 예측보다 줄어들고 있다.

 

이 사진은 아이손 혜성이 계속 꼬리를 늘려가고 있던 2주 전에 촬영된 것이다.

지난 주 이 혜성이 화성에 상대적으로 가까이 지나칠 때 MRO 위성이 직접적으로 사진을 촬영할 수 있었다.

11월 말, 아이손 혜성이 태양표면으로부터 태양지름 수배 이내로 근접하게 됐을 때, 이 혜성은 달보다도 더 밝아지며 기다란 꼬리를 자랑할 수도 있으며 아니면 이에 훨신 못미치는 모습을 보일 수도 있다.

어느쪽으로 가게되든 천문관측자들은 어떻게든 살아남은 혜성이, 올해 얼마남지 않은 기간동안이나마 지구에서 바라봤을 때 인상적인 모습을 연출할 것을 희망하고 있다.

 
출처 : NASA - 오늘의 천체사진(2013년 10월 7일 자)
         http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap131007.html
         https://plus.google.com/u/0/+AstronomyPictureOfTheDay/posts

 

참고 : C/2012 S1 아이손 혜성을 비롯한 태양계의 다양한 작은 천체에 대한 포스팅은 아래 링크를 통해 조회할 수 있습니다.
          왜소행성 :  https://big-crunch.tistory.com/12346957
          소행성 :  https://big-crunch.tistory.com/12346956
          혜성 :  https://big-crunch.tistory.com/12346955
          유성 :  https://big-crunch.tistory.com/12346954 

 

원문>

 

Comet ISON Approaches
Image Credit & Copyright: Damian Peach
http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap131007.html

How impressive will Comet ISON become? No one is sure, but unfortunately, as the comet approaches the inner Solar System, it is brightening more slowly than many early predictions. Pictured above, Comet ISON is seen about two weeks ago as it continued to develop a tail. Last week the comet passed relatively close to Mars, and was directly imaged by the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter. When Comet ISON dives to within a few solar radii of the Sun's surface in late November, it may become brighter than the Moon and sport a long and flowing tail -- or it may appear somewhat less spectacular. Either way, sky enthusiasts hope that whatever comet parts survive will put on quite an impressive show, as viewed from Earth, through at least the rest of the year.