Space
Comet ISON-Comet of the Century Did Not Survive the Journey Around The Sun [VIDEO]
Benita Matilda
First Posted: Nov 29, 2013 07:36 AM EST
Scientists and astronomers around the globe were anxiously waiting to observe the fate of the Comet ISON, dubbed as comet of the century to see whether it survives its journey around the Sun.
According to NASA, Comet ISON made its trip around the sun on Nov 28, 2013. The event where the icy visitor was making its closest approach to the sun, known as perihelion, was observed by several solar observatories.
Though the fate of the new sungrazing comet that travelled millions of years to reach the inner solar system is not yet established, astronomers suggest that it did not survive its journey around the sun. Looking at the view captured by NASA's Solar Terrestrial Relations Observatory, the European Space Agency and NASA's Solar and Heliospheric Observatory, the comet appeared to grow faint. In NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory the comet was not at all visible.
BBC reports that the telescope images reveal that the comet nucleus and tail have been destroyed.
"We didn't see Comet ISON in SDO," said Dean Pesnell, project scientist for SDO. "So we think it must have broken up and evaporated before it reached perihelion."
The comet was discovered on September 21, 2012. Now that it has broken apart, the Northern Hemisphere skywatchers will not get to see a glimpse of the comet in December. The comet was expected to successfully make its journey round the Sun and appear as a bright object with streaming tail that is easily visible to the naked eyes.
According to IB Times, at the closest approach the comet was travelling through the Sun's atmosphere at a speed of almost 217 miles per second and attaining a temperature of 5,000 degree Fahrenheit. This temperature vaporized the icy core of the comet as well as its dust and rock.
"From the beginning, ISON has confused, surprised and amazed us, and in hindsight its latest little escapade really should not shock us," Karl Battams, a comet scientist for the Naval Research Laboratory was quoted in CNN. "Nonetheless, this has been one of the most extraordinary comets we have ever encountered, and just goes to reiterate how beautiful, dynamic and exciting our universe is."
Undoubtedly, Comet ISON was an unusual comet something the astronomers had never seen before
See Now:
NASA's Juno Spacecraft's Rendezvous With Jupiter's Mammoth Cyclone
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First Posted: Nov 29, 2013 07:36 AM EST
Scientists and astronomers around the globe were anxiously waiting to observe the fate of the Comet ISON, dubbed as comet of the century to see whether it survives its journey around the Sun.
According to NASA, Comet ISON made its trip around the sun on Nov 28, 2013. The event where the icy visitor was making its closest approach to the sun, known as perihelion, was observed by several solar observatories.
Though the fate of the new sungrazing comet that travelled millions of years to reach the inner solar system is not yet established, astronomers suggest that it did not survive its journey around the sun. Looking at the view captured by NASA's Solar Terrestrial Relations Observatory, the European Space Agency and NASA's Solar and Heliospheric Observatory, the comet appeared to grow faint. In NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory the comet was not at all visible.
BBC reports that the telescope images reveal that the comet nucleus and tail have been destroyed.
"We didn't see Comet ISON in SDO," said Dean Pesnell, project scientist for SDO. "So we think it must have broken up and evaporated before it reached perihelion."
The comet was discovered on September 21, 2012. Now that it has broken apart, the Northern Hemisphere skywatchers will not get to see a glimpse of the comet in December. The comet was expected to successfully make its journey round the Sun and appear as a bright object with streaming tail that is easily visible to the naked eyes.
According to IB Times, at the closest approach the comet was travelling through the Sun's atmosphere at a speed of almost 217 miles per second and attaining a temperature of 5,000 degree Fahrenheit. This temperature vaporized the icy core of the comet as well as its dust and rock.
"From the beginning, ISON has confused, surprised and amazed us, and in hindsight its latest little escapade really should not shock us," Karl Battams, a comet scientist for the Naval Research Laboratory was quoted in CNN. "Nonetheless, this has been one of the most extraordinary comets we have ever encountered, and just goes to reiterate how beautiful, dynamic and exciting our universe is."
Undoubtedly, Comet ISON was an unusual comet something the astronomers had never seen before
See Now: NASA's Juno Spacecraft's Rendezvous With Jupiter's Mammoth Cyclone