COMET TAIL: Receding Comet Lovejoy (C/2014 Q2)

COMET TAIL: Receding Comet Lovejoy (C/2014 Q2) has faded a bit from its peak brightness earlier this month, but it is still a spectacular comet. Trace the tormented streamers of gas flowing from the comet's icy nucleus in this deep-sky exposure from astrophotographer Gerald Rhemann of Puchenstuben, Austria:

Actually, that was only half of Lovejoy's tail. Click here to see the rest.

The many kinks, eddies and whorls propagating down the tail are caused by an unknown combination of (1) variable activity in the comet's nucleus and (2) gusts of solar wind buffeting the streamers of emerging gas. Every time astronomers photograph the structure, it looks different. Indeed, this is one of the most dynamic comets in years.

Shining like a star of magnitude 4.4, Comet Lovejoy is a difficult target for the naked eye, but as Rheman's photo shows, it is a wonderful subject for deep-sky photography. The comet is currently passing through the constellation Aries high in the evening sky. The Minor Planet Center has published an ephemeris for accurate pointing of telescopes.

[link to www.spaceweather.com]