Comet Hale-Bopp. Optical image of comet Hale-Bopp showing its gas and dust tails. Hale-Bopp was one of the brightest comets of the 20th century. Its gas or "ion" tail (stretching to upper left) consists of ionised glowing gas blown away from the comet head by the solar wind. The dust tail (stretching to upper right) consists of grains of dust pushed away from the comet head by the radiation of sunlight. Comets have a nucleus of ice and dust. As they approach the Sun their surface evaporates,releasing a tail millions of kilometres long. Comet Hale-Bopp was discovered on 23 June 1995. Photographed in March 1997 | |
Lizenzart: | Lizenzpflichtig |
Credit: | Science Photo Library / Madeley, Chris |
Bildgröße: | 5228 px × 3425 px |
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Eigentums-Rechte: | nicht erforderlich |
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