Planets and Moons
ID: 11676
On October 19, 2014, Comet Siding Spring had a remarkably close encounter with Mars, buzzing the Red Planet at just one-third the distance from Earth to the moon. The comet hails from far beyond Pluto's orbit, originating in a region of icy debris known as the Oort cloud. Comets from the Oort cloud are both ancient and rare. Such comets were born during the formation of our solar system and are older than Earth itself. As Comet Siding Spring passed by Mars, it left behind a trail of gas and dust. Using space and ground-based telescopes, along with NASA’s fleet of Mars orbiters and rovers, scientists will study the composition of the comet and the effects of its gas and dust on the Martian atmosphere. Watch the video to learn more.
Comet Encounter
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Story Credits
Visualizers/Animators:
Greg Shirah (NASA/GSFC)
Michael Lentz (USRA)
Walt Feimer (HTSI)
Ernie Wright (USRA)
Video Editor:
Dan Gallagher (USRA)
Narrator:
Dan Gallagher (USRA)
Producer:
Dan Gallagher (USRA)
Lead Scientists:
Kelly Fast (NASA/HQ)
Bruce Jakosky (LASP)
David Folta (NASA/GSFC)
Project Support:
Aaron E. Lepsch (ADNET Systems, Inc.)
Lead Writer:
Dan Gallagher (USRA)
Greg Shirah (NASA/GSFC)
Michael Lentz (USRA)
Walt Feimer (HTSI)
Ernie Wright (USRA)
Video Editor:
Dan Gallagher (USRA)
Narrator:
Dan Gallagher (USRA)
Producer:
Dan Gallagher (USRA)
Lead Scientists:
Kelly Fast (NASA/HQ)
Bruce Jakosky (LASP)
David Folta (NASA/GSFC)
Project Support:
Aaron E. Lepsch (ADNET Systems, Inc.)
Lead Writer:
Dan Gallagher (USRA)
Please give credit for this item to:
NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center
Comet image courtesy of NASA/ESA/Planetary Science Institute/J.-Y. Li
NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center
Comet image courtesy of NASA/ESA/Planetary Science Institute/J.-Y. Li
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https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/11676
Keywords:
SVS >> App
NASA Science >> Planets and Moons
https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/11676
Keywords:
SVS >> App
NASA Science >> Planets and Moons
