Astronomy Picture of the Day

   [1]Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our
      fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation
                    written by a professional astronomer.

                              2026 February 17
    [2]A star field shows a bright comet with its head on the lower left
     and tails extending toward the upper right. A background galaxy is
   visible on the far right. Please see the explanation for more detailed
                                information.

                          Tails of Comet Wierzchoś
               Image Credit & Copyright: [3]José J. Chambó;
     Text: [4]Cecilia Chirenti ([5]NASA [6]GSFC, [7]UMCP, [8]CRESST II)

   Explanation: Some [9]comets are [10]regular guests of our solar
   neighborhood; others come by only once, never to return. We won’t have
   another chance to see [11]Comet C/2024 E1 (Wierzchoś), which is
   currently making its way through the inner [12]Solar System. The
   [13]hyperbolic orbit of this comet [14]indicates that it will likely
   become an interstellar traveler. Comet Wierzchoś is [15]today near its
   closest approach to the Earth, passing roughly the [16]same distance
   from the [17]Earth as is the [18]Sun. The featured 30-minute exposure
   was taken last week in [19]Chile and shows a 5-degree long [20]ion tail
   as well as three shorter [21]dust tails. The [22]green hue of the
   [23]coma comes from the breakdown of [24]dicarbon molecules by
   sunlight, but that process does [25]not last long enough to also
   [26]tinge the tails. On the far right lies a [27]spiral galaxy far in
   the distance: [28]NGC 300.

                      Tomorrow's picture: cradle alpha
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    Authors & editors: [40]Robert Nemiroff ([41]MTU) & [42]Jerry Bonnell
                                 ([43]UMCP)
          NASA Official: Amber Straughn [44]Specific rights apply.
            [45]NASA Web Privacy, [46]Accessibility, [47]Notices;
                A service of: [48]ASD at [49]NASA / [50]GSFC,
                         [51]NASA Science Activation
                           & [52]Michigan Tech. U.

References

   1. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/archivepix.html
   2. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/image/2602/Wierzchos_Chabo_1280.jpg
   3. https://cometografia.es/acerca-de/jose-chambo/mi-perfil-my-profile/
   4. https://science.gsfc.nasa.gov/sci/bio/cecilia.bertonimarthahadlerchirenti
   5. https://www.nasa.gov/
   6. https://www.nasa.gov/goddard/
   7. https://www.astro.umd.edu/people/cecilia-chirenti
   8. https://cresst2.umd.edu/
   9. https://science.nasa.gov/solar-system/comets/
  10. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap240808.html
  11. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C/2024_E1_(Wierzchoś)
  12. https://science.nasa.gov/solar-system/
  13. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyperbolic_trajectory
  14. https://cosmoquest.org/x/365daysofastronomy/2026/01/18/jan-18th-ultra-distant-comet-c-2024-e1-wierzchos/
  15. https://astro.vanbuitenen.nl/comet/2024E1
  16. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Astronomical_unit
  17. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap220206.html
  18. https://science.nasa.gov/sun/
  19. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chile
  20. https://spaceplace.nasa.gov/comets/en/anatomy-of-a-comet.en.jpg
  21. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap250126.html
  22. https://www.science.org/content/article/why-do-some-comets-glow-green
  23. https://www.esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/Images/2023/11/Structure_of_a_comet
  24. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diatomic_carbon
  25. https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BUCOEePIcAAht9h.jpg
  26. https://www.pnas.org/doi/full/10.1073/pnas.2113315118
  27. https://science.nasa.gov/universe/galaxies/types/
  28. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap241202.html
  29. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap260216.html
  30. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/archivepix.html
  31. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/apsubmit2015.html
  32. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/aptree.html
  33. https://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/apod/apod_search
  34. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/calendar/allyears.html
  35. https://apod.com/feed.rss
  36. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/edlinks.html
  37. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/about_apod.html
  38. https://asterisk.apod.com/discuss_apod.php?date=260217
  39. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap260218.html
  40. http://www.phy.mtu.edu/faculty/Nemiroff.html
  41. http://www.phy.mtu.edu/
  42. https://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/htmltest/jbonnell/www/bonnell.html
  43. http://www.astro.umd.edu/
  44. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/about_apod.html#srapply
  45. https://www.nasa.gov/about/highlights/HP_Privacy.html
  46. https://www.nasa.gov/general/accessibility/
  47. https://www.nasa.gov/privacy/
  48. https://astrophysics.gsfc.nasa.gov/
  49. https://www.nasa.gov/
  50. https://www.nasa.gov/centers/goddard/
  51. https://science.nasa.gov/learners
  52. http://www.mtu.edu/