MSGID: 1:153/757@fidonet 61474fcc   
   PID: MBSE-FIDO 1.0.7.22 (GNU/Linux-x86_64)   
   CHRS: CP437 2   
   TZUTC: -0800   
   TID: MBSE-FIDO 1.0.7.22 (GNU/Linux-x86_64)   
                           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.   
      
                                  2021 December 3   
      
                        Comet Leonard and the Whale Galaxy   
                      Image Credit & Copyright: Gregg Ruppel   
      
      Explanation: Sweeping through northern predawn skies, on November 24   
      Comet Leonard (C/2021 A1) was caught between two galaxies in this   
      composite telescopic image. Sporting a greenish coma the comet's dusty   
      tail seems to harpoon the heart of NGC 4631 (top) also known as the   
      Whale Galaxy. Of course NGC 4631 and NGC 4656 (bottom, aka the Hockey   
      Stick) are background galaxies some 25 million light-years away. On   
      that date the comet was about 6 light-minutes from our fair planet. Its   
      closest approach to Earth (and even closer approach to Venus) still to   
      come, Comet Leonard will grow brighter in December. Already a good   
      object for binoculars and small telescopes, this comet will likely not   
      return to the inner Solar System. Its perihelion, or closest approach   
      to the Sun, will be on January 3, 2022.   
      
                         Tomorrow's picture: light-weekend   
        __________________________________________________________________   
      
          Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff (MTU) & Jerry Bonnell (UMCP)   
               NASA Official: Phillip Newman Specific rights apply.   
                   NASA Web Privacy Policy and Important Notices   
                         A service of: ASD at NASA / GSFC   
                                & Michigan Tech. U.   
   --- MBSE BBS v1.0.7.22 (GNU/Linux-x86_64)   
    * Origin: The Rusty MailBox - Penticton, BC Canada (1:153/757)   
   SEEN-BY: 1/123 14/0 90/1 103/705 105/81 120/340 123/131 129/305 134/100   
   SEEN-BY: 153/0 105 135 757 6809 218/700 840 221/1 6 226/30 227/114   
   SEEN-BY: 229/424 426 428 664 700 240/1120 5832 249/206 317 400 261/38   
   SEEN-BY: 282/1038 301/1 113 812 317/3 322/757 335/364 341/66 342/200   
   SEEN-BY: 460/58 633/280 712/848 920/1 4500/1 5020/1042 5058/104   
   PATH: 153/757 221/6 301/1 229/426