NEOWISE as seen by Hubble (IMAGE)

NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center

NEOWISE as seen by Hubble

Caption

This image of comet C/2020 F3 (NEOWISE) was taken by the Hubble Space Telescope on Aug. 8, 2020. Hubble's image represents the first time a comet of this brightness has been photographed at such resolution after this close of a pass by the Sun. The two structures appearing on the left and right sides of the comet's center are jets made up of ice sublimating from beneath the surface of the nucleus, with the resulting dust and gas being squeezed through at a high velocity. The jets emerge as cone-like structures, then are fanned out by the rotation of comet NEOWISE's nucleus.

Credit

NASA, ESA, A. Pagan (STScI), and Q. Zhang (Caltech)

Usage Restrictions

None

License

Licensed content

Disclaimer: AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert system.