COMET PLUNGES INTO THE SUN

COMET PLUNGES INTO THE SUN

Subtract one from the Solar System’s total count of comets.

On Saturday, Nov. 24th, a small unnamed comet dove into the sun and evaporated. Coronagrapbhs onboard the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) recorded the death plunge:

A subsequent movie shows the comet going in, but not coming out again. R.I.P.!

The doomed comet was a member of the Kreutz family. Kreutz sungrazers are fragments from the breakup of a single giant comet many centuries ago. They are seen falling into the sun dozens of times a year. This particular sungrazer measured a few tens of meters in diameter, too small to survive a close approach with the sun.

Source: Spaceweather.com

David Aragorn
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