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   TZUTC: -0800   
   CHRS: LATIN-1 2   
                           Astronomy Picture of the Day   
      
       Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our   
         fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation   
                       written by a professional astronomer.   
      
                                  2025 January 20   
      A comet is seen near the top of the image. The comet has several tails   
       visible, some being white but others having different colors. Please   
                see the explanation for more detailed information.   
      
                            Comet ATLAS Rounds the Sun   
        Image Credit: NASA, SOHO Spacecraft, LASCO C3; Processing: Rolando   
                                     Ligustri   
      
      Explanation: Why does Comet ATLAS have such colorful tails? Last week   
      Comet C/2024 G3 (ATLAS) passed its closest to the Sun -- well inside   
      the orbit of Mercury -- and brightened dramatically. Unfortunately, the   
      comet was then so angularly near the Sun that it was very hard for   
      humans to see. But NASA's SOHO spacecraft saw it. Pictured is a SOHO   
      (LASCO C3) image of Comet ATLAS that is a composite of several   
      different color filters. Of the several tails visible, the central   
      white tails are likely made of dust and just reflecting back sunlight.   
      The red, blue, and green tails are likely ion tails with their colors   
      dominated by light emitted by specific gases that were ejected from the   
      comet and energized by the Sun. Currently, Comet ATLAS is showing long   
      tails in southern skies but fading as it moves out of the inner Solar   
      System.   
      
                         Growing Gallery: Comet ATLAS (G3)   
                          Tomorrow's picture: long tails   
        __________________________________________________________________   
      
          Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff (MTU) & Jerry Bonnell (UMCP)   
               NASA Official: Amber Straughn Specific rights apply.   
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                         A service of: ASD at NASA / GSFC,   
                              NASA Science Activation   
                                & Michigan Tech. U.   
      
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