近日点附近的彗星C/2023 E1 ATLAS

2023年7月14日

Comet C/2023 E1 ATLAS near Perihelion
Image Credit & Copyright: Dan Bartlett

Explanation: Comet C/2023 E1 (ATLAS) was just spotted in March, another comet found by the NASA funded Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System. On July 1 this Comet ATLAS reached perihelion, its closest approach to the Sun. Shortly afterwards the telescopic comet was captured in this frame sporting a pretty greenish coma and faint, narrow ion tail against a background of stars in the far northern constellation Ursa Minor. This comet’s closest approach to Earth is still to come though. On August 18 this visitor to the inner Solar System will be a mere 3 light-minutes or so from our fair planet. Based on its inclination to the ecliptic plane and orbital period of about 85 years C/2023 E1 (ATLAS) is considered a Halley-type comet.

Tomorrow’s picture: light-weekend

近日点附近的彗星C/2023 E1 ATLAS
影像提供与版权: Dan Bartlett

说明: 刚在今年3月发现的彗星C/2023 E1（ATLAS），是由NASA资助的小行星撞击最后警报系统（ATLAS）所发现的另一颗彗星。在7月1日，这颗ATLAS彗星来到最接近太阳的近日点。而在摄于通过近日点后不久的这幅影像里，透过望远镜才得见的这颗彗星以北天的小熊座之繁星为背景，曳着美丽的泛绿彗发及暗淡且狭窄的离子尾。然而，这颗彗星最接近地球的时日尚未到来。要等到8月18日，这位太阳系内围的访客，才会来到离我们美丽行星只有3光分左右的位置。根据它与黄道面的倾角及大约85年的轨道周期来衡量，C/2023 E1（ATLAS）咸认是一颗哈雷型彗星。

明日的图片: light-weekend