Comet Lovejoy from the International Space Station

Comet Lovejoy is visible near Earth's horizon in this nighttime image photographed by NASA astronaut Dan Burbank, Expedition 30 commander, on board the International Space Station on December 22, 2011.

Photo credit: NASA

Comet Lovejoy Over Paranal Observatory

ESO optician Guillaume Blanchard captured this marvelous wide-angle photo of Comet Lovejoy just two days ago on 22 December 2011. Comet Lovejoy has been the talk of the astronomy community over the past few weeks. It was first discovered on 27 November by the Australian amateur astronomer Terry Lovejoy and was classified as a Kreutz sungrazer, with its orbit taking it very close to the Sun, passing a mere 140,000 kilometers from the Sun’s surface.

Photo credit: G. Blanchard(eso.org/~gblancha)/ESO

Note: For more information, see Christmas Comet Lovejoy Captured at Paranal.

Comet Lovejoy Grazes the Sun (and Survives)

Comet Lovejoy skimmed across the Sun's edge about 140,000 km above the surface late December 15 and early December 16, 2011, furiously brightening and vaporizing as it approached the Sun. It is the brightest sungrazing comet that SOHO has ever seen, with a nucleus about twice as wide as a football field. It unexpectedly survived the pass and cruised out from behind the Sun some hours later. Comets are ancient balls of dust and ice.

Video credit: NASA; text credit: NASA

Note: For more information, see Comet Lovejoy Plunges into the Sun and Survives.