Unexpected Comet Pojmanski Now Visible

[Denny]

[FJohnSharp]

Cool.

If space is a vacuum, then how do all the tiny particles get pulled off as it travels?

[dfernandez77]

Evaporation and solar wind.

[Redwolf]

Is it visible to the naked eye? If so, from where?

I love comets. Seeing Halle-Bopp in the sky for so long years ago was one of the highlights of my life!

Redwolf

[Denny]

@da page w/da pic

Right now, however, a new comet has brightened unexpectedly and is visible as a faint streak to the unaided northern observer in the eastern morning sky just before sunrise. Binoculars may help.

[djm]

“For NASA, space is still a high priority.”

• George W. Bush

[fyffer]

@FJohnSharp

Cool.

If space is a vacuum, then how do all the tiny particles get pulled off as it travels?

They don’t get “pulled off” - actually, the comet’s tail points away from the sun, and doesn’t trail behind the motion of the comet as if it were smoke trailing behind a ballistic object. As was already mentioned, the solar wind is responsible for the tail.

[Denny]

@djm

“For NASA, space is still a high priority.”

• George W. Bush

not very

edit: to add “not very” link

[Denny]

@fyffer

@FJohnSharp

Cool.

If space is a vacuum, then how do all the tiny particles get pulled off as it travels?

They don’t get “pulled off” - actually, the comet’s tail points away from the sun, and doesn’t trail behind the motion of the comet as if it were smoke trailing behind a ballistic object. As was already mentioned, the solar wind is responsible for the tail.

click the pic