Comet Lovejoy
Astronomers were excited in December 2011, when Comet Lovejoy swept right through the sun #39;s corona with its long tail streaming behind it. NASA #39;s Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) captured images of the comet, showing how its long tail was buffeted by systems around the sun, offering scientists a unique way of observing movement as if they #39;d orchestrated the experiment themselves. Since comet tails have ionized gases, they are also affected by the sun #39;s magnetic field, and can act as tracers of the complex magnetic system higher up in the solar atmosphere. Animators: Scott Wiessinger (USRA) Walt Feimer (HTSI) Tom Bridgman (GST) Chris Smith (HTSI) Video Editor: Scott Wiessinger (USRA) Narrator: Scott Wiessinger (USRA) Producer: Scott Wiessinger (USRA) Scientist: William D. Pesnell (NASA\/GSFC) Writer: Scott Wiessinger (USRA) Series: SDO - Edited Features Goddard TV Tape: G2012-123 -- Sun GrazersFrom:NASAexploreViews:0 0ratingsTime:03:35More inScience Technology
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Comet Lovejoy - Video<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Comet Lovejoy Astronomers were excited in December 2011, when Comet Lovejoy swept right through the sun's corona with its long tail streaming behind it. NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) captured images of the comet, showing how its long tail was buffeted by systems around the sun, offering scientists a unique way of observing movement as if they'd orchestrated the experiment themselves Continue reading