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                           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.   
      
                                 2026 February 17   
       A star field shows a bright comet with its head on the lower left and   
      tails extending toward the upper right. A background galaxy is visible   
          on the far right. Please see the explanation for more detailed   
                                   information.   
      
                             Tails of Comet Wierzcho+ø   
                     Image Credit & Copyright: Jos+¬ J. Chamb+|;   
                Text: Cecilia Chirenti (NASA GSFC, UMCP, CRESST II)   
      
      Explanation: Some comets are regular guests of our solar neighborhood;   
      others come by only once, never to return. We wonCÇÖt have another chance   
      to see Comet C/2024 E1 (Wierzcho+ø), which is currently making its way   
      through the inner Solar System. The hyperbolic orbit of this comet   
      indicates that it will likely become an interstellar traveler. Comet   
      Wierzcho+ø is today near its closest approach to the Earth, passing   
      roughly the same distance from the Earth as is the Sun. The featured   
      30-minute exposure was taken last week in Chile and shows a 5-degree   
      long ion tail as well as three shorter dust tails. The green hue of the   
      coma comes from the breakdown of dicarbon molecules by sunlight, but   
      that process does not last long enough to also tinge the tails. On the   
      far right lies a spiral galaxy far in the distance: NGC 300.   
      
                         Tomorrow's picture: cradle alpha   
        __________________________________________________________________   
      
          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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