Comet ISON make "3D-picture" solar emissions - RIA Novosti

MOSCOW, November 25 – RIA Novosti. Comet ISON, which is now coming closer to the Sun, can be struck powerful “gust” solar wind – solar plasma emission, it will not cause serious damage to the comet , but it will allow scientists to better understand the structure of these emissions, according to a statement on the website of NASA.

Scientists note that in 2007, one of the two space telescopes “Stereo” filmed as a powerful ejection of the plasma tail of comet Encke tore. “2007 was the year, close to the minimum of solar activity. But now the sun is almost at the peak of its cycle, and emissions occur more frequently” – said Vurlidas Angelos (Angelos Vourlidas) of the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory.

ejection of solar plasma tail of comet Encke tears

Furthermore, ISON approach to the Sun is about 30 times closer than the comet Encke, which further increases the likelihood for it to get into the “solar storm.” “This will not hurt a comet, but will give us a chance to explore the interaction (emission) with the comet tail” – said Bettems Carl (Karl Battams) Navy lab.

A large number of plasma emissions occur during powerful X-ray flares. Plasma cloud has a low density and will not damage the nucleus of the comet, but may act strongly on her tail. If such a release occurs, get not only the comet ISON – now the sun is once again approaching and Encke. Both comets now visible in the images from the telescope “Stereo A”. Watching the impact of the emissions on both the comet, scientists will be able to determine the parameters of the plasma cloud in two points and thus restore its three-dimensional structure.

Comet C/2012 S1 (ISON) was discovered in 2012 by Russian amateur astronomer Artyom Novichonok and his Belarusian counterpart Vitaly Nevsky. Scientists believed that the comet may reach the brightness of the full moon and become the brightest comet decades, but so far these predictions did not come true.

Now

comet approaches perihelion – the point closest to the Sun in its orbit, which will be held on November 28. At this point, it will be at a distance – 1.16 million kilometers (more than 40 times closer to Mercury), and the temperature on the surface exceeds 2.7 thousand degrees. Astronomers do not exclude that the comet can not sustain convergence and collapse. However, if she’s going through perihelion, it will again become available for observation in early December. At the end of the month, December 26, the comet will pass closest to the Earth – 64 million miles away.

© Photo: Primož Cigler

most famous comet in recent years

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See also: is talking about red face when taking alcohol, why nanoparticles attach to the sperm, how many will last a “revolution” of the Sun, what will happen to our universe, and more – in the latest installment, “Science Monday” on ria.ru.

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