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   TZUTC: -0700   
   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.   
      
                                   2024 April 8   
       A sequence of eight images of Comet Pons-Brooks, from top to bottom,   
      showing the comet and its changing tail over 9 days. The ion tail looks   
      very different in each of the images, sometimes being much more complex   
          than other times. Please see the explanation for more detailed   
                                   information.   
      
                    The Changing Ion Tail of Comet Pons-Brooks   
                  Image Credit & Copyright: Shengyu Li & Shaining   
      
      Explanation: How does a comet tail change? It depends on the comet. The   
      ion tail of Comet 12P/PonsCÇôBrooks has been changing markedly, as   
      detailed in the featured image sequenced over nine days from March 6 to   
      14 (top to bottom). On some days, the comet's ion tail was relatively   
      long and complex, but not every day. Reasons for tail changes include   
      the rate of ejection of material from the comet's nucleus, the strength   
      and complexity of the passing solar wind, and the rotation rate of the   
      comet. Over the course of a week, apparent changes even include a   
      change of perspective from the Earth. In general, a comet's ion tail   
      will point away from the Sun, as gas expelled is pushed out by the   
      Sun's wind. Today, Pons-Brooks may become a rare comet suddenly visible   
      in the middle of the day for those able to see the Sun totally eclipsed   
      by the Moon.   
      
                    NASA Coverage: Today's Total Solar Eclipse   
      Total Eclipse Imagery: Notable Submissions to APOD Tomorrow's picture:   
                                yesterday's eclipse   
        __________________________________________________________________   
      
          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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