Comet Ison destroyed in Sun passage
By Jonathan Amos, Science correspondent, BBC News
By Jonathan Amos, Science correspondent, BBC News
Comet Ison was severely battered in its encounter with the Sun, and largely destroyed.
Telescopes saw the giant ball of ice and dust disappear behind the star, but only a dull streamer emerge. Astronomers continued to search for the object, but it eventually became clear that the much vaunted "Comet of the Century" had gone out with a whimper.
Despite its great size, Ison was probably torn apart in the immense heat and tidal forces so close to the Sun.
The European Space Agency's experts on the Soho Sun-watching satellite called the death of the comet at about 21:30 GMT. "Our Soho scientists have confirmed, Comet Ison is gone," Esa's twitter feed announced.
Full report at : http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-25143861
Telescopes saw the giant ball of ice and dust disappear behind the star, but only a dull streamer emerge. Astronomers continued to search for the object, but it eventually became clear that the much vaunted "Comet of the Century" had gone out with a whimper.
Despite its great size, Ison was probably torn apart in the immense heat and tidal forces so close to the Sun.
The European Space Agency's experts on the Soho Sun-watching satellite called the death of the comet at about 21:30 GMT. "Our Soho scientists have confirmed, Comet Ison is gone," Esa's twitter feed announced.
Full report at : http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-25143861
RSS Feed