PIA21749: Comet Illustration (Animation)


Comet Illustration (Animation)

Caption:

Click here to view the animation

This animation portrays a comet as it approaches the inner solar system. Light from the Sun warms the comet core, an object so small it cannot be seen at this scale. Ices within the comet are vaporized by the heat, streaming out from the tiny core forming a giant halo, known as a 'coma' around it. Particles of dust, carried along with the gas, are blown out to form a tail that extends away from the Sun.

Cataloging Keywords:

Name Value Additional Values
Target
System
Target Type Comet
Mission
Instrument Host
Host Type
Instrument
Detector
Extra Keywords Color, Dust, Movie
Acquisition Date
Release Date 2017-07-25
Date in Caption
Image Credit NASA/JPL-Caltech
Source photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA21749
Identifier PIA21749