Streaking Comet (Jun 20, 2008)

Hi-res TIF image (1.6M)

MPEG Movie: Large (2.4M)
Quicktime Movie: Large (2.6M)

SOHO science team members were surprised to capture another arcing comet that dove into the Sun (June 16, 2008). The fast-moving comet entered the field of view the LASCO C2 coronagraph and disintegrated as it approached the Sun by day's end. This one probably belongs to the Kreutz sungrazer family of comets, fragments from the breakup of a giant comet over hundreds of years ago. (The Sun is represented by the white circle and the red occulting disks block out the immediate area around the Sun so we can see fainter structures in the surrounding corona.)

Take note: SOHO is approaching its 1500th comet discovery. It should reach that number somewhere near the end of June.

SOHO began its Weekly Pick some time after sending a weekly image or video clip to the American Museum of Natural History (Rose Center) in New York City. There, the SOHO Weekly Pick is displayed with some annotations on a large plasma display.

If your institution would also like to receive the same Weekly Pick from us for display (usually in Photoshop or QuickTime format), please send your inquiry to steele.hill@gsfc.nasa.gov.