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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.   
      
                                  2022 August 20   
      
                             Stardust and Comet Tails   
          Image Credit & Copyright: Rolando Ligustri (CARA Project, CAST)   
      
      Explanation: Heading for its closest approach to the Sun, or   
      perihelion, on December 19 comet C/2017 K2 (PanSTARRS) remains a sight   
      for telescopic observers as it sweeps through planet Earth's skies in   
      the constellation Scorpius. The comet currently sports a greenish coma,   
      long whitish dust tail, and short ion tail in this deep image from   
      August 18. The 2x3 degree wide field of view includes part of the dusty   
      nebula IC 4592 reflecting blue starlight. Also known as the Blue   
      Horsehead Nebula, IC 4592 is about 400 light-years distant while the   
      comet is just under 17 light-minutes away. First spotted at a distance   
      well beyond the orbit of Saturn C/2017 K2 is on its maiden voyage to   
      the inner solar system, a pristine visitor from the remote Oort cloud.   
      
                       Tomorrow's picture: cosmic crustacean   
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          Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff (MTU) & Jerry Bonnell (UMCP)   
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                         A service of: ASD at NASA / GSFC,   
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                                & Michigan Tech. U.   
      
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