The much anticipated encounter occurred on Thursday, November 28th, when ISON neared perihelion or its closest approach to the sun. With the icy comet already sporting an impressive tail that measured 20 times wider than our fullest Moon and a head that was bright enough to be spotted at predawn with just the naked eye, expectations were high! After all, a dose of intense heat from the sun could only enhance it, right?
All they were able to observe was a mysterious fan-shaped cloud that emerged from the sun's atmosphere, a few minutes later. Even the Solar Dynamics Observatory that had been keeping close track of the comet was not powerful enough to see what was inside. NASA scientists speculate that it could be theremnant nucleus of the once mighty comet, but nobody will ever know for sure!
RIP, comet ISON!
Resource:Science.NASA.gov
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