Sunday, October 27, 2013

Comet ISON: Incoming Sungrazer (or how will it react with a Sun in CME mood?)


Hubble photo of Comet ISON on Oct. 9, 2013

NASA's Hubble Space Telescope took this photo of Comet ISON, described as the 'potential Comet of the Century', on Oct. 9, 2013, when the comet was inside Mars’ orbit and about 177 million miles from Earth. The nucleus of ISON appears to be intact.

Comet ISON will make its closest approach to the sun on Nov. 28, coming within 730,000 miles (1.2 million kilometers) of the star's surface. 

There have been so many records of SOHO where comets approaching the sun cause sudden flaring and discharging of CME's. It should really be interesting how Comet ISON will interact with the sun's magnetic field. Eyes open.