                        Astronomy Picture of the Day

    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
    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: José J. Chambó;
             Text: Cecilia Chirenti (NASA GSFC, UMCP, CRESST II)

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

                      Tomorrow's picture: cradle alpha
     __________________________________________________________________

       Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff (MTU) & Jerry Bonnell (UMCP)
            NASA Official: Amber Straughn Specific rights apply.
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                           NASA Science Activation
                             & Michigan Tech. U.

