Dark Knight
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WASHINGTON An odd, greenish backward-flying comet is zipping by Earth this month, as it takes its only trip toward the sun from the farthest edges of the solar system. The comet is called Lulin, and there's a chance it can be seen with the naked eye far from city lights, astronomers say.
But you'll most likely need a telescope, or at least binoculars, to spot it.
The best opportunity is just before dawn one-third of the way up the southern sky. It should be near Saturn and two bright stars, Spica and Regula.
On Monday at 10:43 p.m. EST, it will be 38 million miles from Earth, the closest it will ever get, according to Donald Yeomans, manager of NASA's Near Earth Object program.
While all the planets and most of the other objects in the solar system circle the sun counterclockwise, Lulin circles clockwise, said NASA astronomer Stephen Edberg. And thanks to an optical illusion, from Earth it appears as if the comet's tail is in the front as the comet approaches Earth and the sun.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090217/ap_on_sc/sci_odd_comet
On the Net:
NASA on Comet Lulin: http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2009/04feb_greencomet.htm
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090217/ap_on_sc/sci_odd_comet
But you'll most likely need a telescope, or at least binoculars, to spot it.
The best opportunity is just before dawn one-third of the way up the southern sky. It should be near Saturn and two bright stars, Spica and Regula.
On Monday at 10:43 p.m. EST, it will be 38 million miles from Earth, the closest it will ever get, according to Donald Yeomans, manager of NASA's Near Earth Object program.
While all the planets and most of the other objects in the solar system circle the sun counterclockwise, Lulin circles clockwise, said NASA astronomer Stephen Edberg. And thanks to an optical illusion, from Earth it appears as if the comet's tail is in the front as the comet approaches Earth and the sun.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090217/ap_on_sc/sci_odd_comet
On the Net:
NASA on Comet Lulin: http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2009/04feb_greencomet.htm
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090217/ap_on_sc/sci_odd_comet