Scratch One Comet (October 21, 2011)

Hi-res TIF image (1.4M)

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A medium-sized comet headed right for Sun and it was a one-way trip (Oct. 19, 2011). This combination still and movie shows the comet as it headed towards the Sun through SOHO's LASCO C3 coronagraph (blue), into its narrow field of view C2 coronagraph (red), while we show the Sun from SDO in extreme UV light. This comet likely belonged to the Kreutz family of comets, smaller pieces that broke away from a much larger comet hundreds of years ago and are often found heading into the Sun. Although we did not get to see it directly impact the Sun (something that has never been seen), it did not come out the other side either.

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.