夜光云与NEOWISE彗星

2020年7月9日

Noctilucent Clouds and Comet NEOWISE
Image Credit & Copyright: Emmanuel Paoly

Explanation: These silvery blue waves washing over a tree-lined horizon in the eastern French Alps are noctilucent clouds. From high in planet Earth’s mesosphere, they reflect sunlight in this predawn skyscape taken on July 8. This summer, the night-shining clouds are not new to the northern high-latitudes. Comet NEOWISE is though. Also known as C/2020 F3, the comet was discovered in March by the Earth-orbiting Near Earth Object Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (NEOWISE) satellite. It’s now emerging in morning twilight only just visible to the unaided eye from a clear location above the northeastern horizon.

Tomorrow’s picture: pixels in space

光云与NEOWISE彗星
图像提供与版权：Emmanuel Paoly

说明：这些摄于法国东阿尔卑斯山，看似在冲击有成列绿树的地平线之银蓝波浪，其实是夜光云。在7月8日的清晨天空中，这些云在地球的中气层里反射阳光。而在今年的夏季，夜光云是北半球高纬度地区的常客。不过，刚在今年的3月，由绕行地球的广视野红外巡天卫星（NEOWISE）发现的NEOWISE彗星，则是如假包换的新访客。目前从视野广阔的地点，在东北地平线上方的曙光中，肉眼隐约可见到NEOWISE彗星。

明日的图片：pixels in space