Last Night's Stunning Photo of Comet SWAN25B

This incredible image showcases Comet SWAN25B, a recently discovered celestial visitor gracing our night sky. The beauty of comets has captivated humanity for centuries, and this latest observation is no exception.

The Science Behind the Tail

Curious about those magnificent tails streaming behind comets? It's all thanks to the Sun's influence! Comets are essentially giant balls of ice, dust, and rock. As a comet approaches the Sun, its icy surface begins to vaporize, releasing gas and dust. This material is then pushed away from the comet by solar radiation and solar wind, forming the characteristic long tail that can stretch for millions of kilometers. The tail always points away from the Sun, regardless of the comet's direction of travel.

Comet SWAN25B's Orbit

Comet SWAN25B is a newly discovered comet with an orbital period of slightly over half a millennium. This means it takes approximately 500 years to complete one orbit around our Sun! Observing such a long-period comet offers a rare opportunity for astronomers to study these ancient remnants of our solar system's formation.