Comet McNaught Over New Zealand

Astronomy Picture of the Day · 2014-10-19 · NASA (public domain)

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Comet McNaught Over New Zealand — APOD for 2014-10-19

Comet McNaught was perhaps the most photogenic comet of modern times -- from Earth. After making quite a show in the northern hemisphere in early January of 2007, the comet moved south and developed a long and unusual dust tail that dazzled southern hemisphere observers . In late January 2007, Comet McNaught was captured between Mount Remarkable and Cecil Peak in this spectacular image taken from Queenstown , South Island , New Zealand . The bright comet dominates the right part of the above image , while the central band of our Milky Way Galaxy dominates the left. Careful inspection of the image will reveal a meteor streak just to the left of the comet. Today, Comet Siding Spring may become the most photogenic comet of modern times -- from Mars. Poll: How do you access APOD?

Astronomy Picture of the Day for 2014-10-19 — image & explanation courtesy of NASA (public domain), mirrored at Tukuk-OS for reading and search convenience.

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