09-13-2019, 05:24 PM
"Gemini Observatory Captures Multicolor Image of First-ever Interstellar Comet"
This comet was mentioned in another thread yesterday, but the Gemini North North Observatory on Mauna Kea has produced the first multicolor images of a comet which appears to be of interstellar origin.
"“This image was possible because of Gemini’s ability to rapidly adjust observations and observe objects like this, which have very short windows of visibility,” said Andrew Stephens of Gemini Observatory who coordinated the observations. “However, we really had to scramble for this one since we got the final details at 3:00 am and were observing it by 4:45!”
The image shows a very pronounced tail, indicative of outgassing, which is what defines a cometary object. This is the first time an interstellar visitor to our Solar System has clearly shown a tail due to outgassing. The only other interstellar visitor studied in our Solar System was ‘Oumuamua which was a very elongated asteroid-like object with no obvious outgassing."
https://www.gemini.edu/node/21240
PS. Just to add to the above, the distance of the comet from the sun is about 3 AU (three times the distance of the earth from the sun) and this is a typical distance for comets to become active. Although not always the case, this distance is near enough to the sun for the volatile ices on the comet to be heated to the point they sublimate and create a tail, exactly what the current observations appear to show.
This comet was mentioned in another thread yesterday, but the Gemini North North Observatory on Mauna Kea has produced the first multicolor images of a comet which appears to be of interstellar origin.
"“This image was possible because of Gemini’s ability to rapidly adjust observations and observe objects like this, which have very short windows of visibility,” said Andrew Stephens of Gemini Observatory who coordinated the observations. “However, we really had to scramble for this one since we got the final details at 3:00 am and were observing it by 4:45!”
The image shows a very pronounced tail, indicative of outgassing, which is what defines a cometary object. This is the first time an interstellar visitor to our Solar System has clearly shown a tail due to outgassing. The only other interstellar visitor studied in our Solar System was ‘Oumuamua which was a very elongated asteroid-like object with no obvious outgassing."
https://www.gemini.edu/node/21240
PS. Just to add to the above, the distance of the comet from the sun is about 3 AU (three times the distance of the earth from the sun) and this is a typical distance for comets to become active. Although not always the case, this distance is near enough to the sun for the volatile ices on the comet to be heated to the point they sublimate and create a tail, exactly what the current observations appear to show.