Comet McNaught heads for the Sun

Left: Comet McNaught seen with SOHO's coronagraph LASCO C3. Credit: SOHO (ESA & NASA) Right: Picture of the comet taken in Saltsjöbaden on the morning of January 10. Credit: Claes and Tobias Fransson

In the last few days, sky watchers in the Northern Hemisphere have been enjoying the sight of Comet McNaught, the brightest comet in 35 years. Now, solar physicists using the ESA-NASA SOHO spacecraft are getting ready for their view. Between January 12 -16, the comet will pass through SOHO's line of sight.

As Comet McNaught heads towards its closest approach to the Sun on 12 January 2007, it will disappear from view for earthbound observers, becoming lost in the Sun's glare. However, SOHO ceaselessly watches the Sun and objects that pass nearby. Comet McNaught will pass within a fifth of the distance between the Earth and the Sun. As the comet approaches the Sun, the amount of dust and gas it releases will increase dramatically, causing the comet to become extremely bright.

Those that did not manage to see the comet when it passed the Earth, can still track the comet's passage near the Sun by looking at the latest images and movie from SOHO's coronagraph LASCO C3.