Counting Comets

  • Released Wednesday, February 6, 2013
  • Updated Thursday, December 3, 2015 at 12:35PM
  • ID: 11145
Comets that graze the sun can either evaporate or defy death and multiply.

Comets that graze the sun can either evaporate or defy death and multiply.

Learn how the particulars of comet orbits around the sun lead to the process of comet multiplication.

On Dec. 15, 2011, NASA's STEREO and ESA/NASA's SOHO missions caught footage of Comet Lovejoy surviving its sungrazing trip.

With better observing tools and more amateur astronomers joining the search, the number of sungrazers counted keeps going up.

With better observing tools and more amateur astronomers joining the search, the number of sungrazers counted keeps going up.

A close-up of this STEREO image shows Comet Lovejoy speeding toward the sun.

A close-up of this STEREO image shows Comet Lovejoy speeding toward the sun.

For More Information

See NASA.gov

Credits

Please give credit for this item to:
NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center
Comet Lovejoy cover image courtesy of ESA/NASA's SOHO mission
Comet Lovejoy footage courtesy of ESA/NASA's SOHO and NASA's STEREO missions
Comet Lovejoy image couretsy of JAXA/NASA Hinode mission

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