Astronomy Picture of the Day ·
What are Comet Tails Made Of?
The Astronomy Picture of the Day for March 26, 1996 is “What are Comet Tails Made Of?,” an image. It is credited to Credit: Jim Martin, Huntsville AL, Courtesy “Night of the Comet” (NASA / Ames). The original explanation runs about 200 words.
From the explanation
“The tail of comet Hyakutake , visible in this recent color image , is composed of dust and gas driven off the icy comet nucleus by the Sun’s heat and blown away by the solar wind. Bathed in solar ultraviolet light , the gas molecules break down and are excited, producing a characteristic glow.”
— APOD editors, March 26, 1996
Read the full explanation on science.nasa.gov
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At a glance
- Date
- March 26, 1996
- Type
- Image
- Credit
- Credit: Jim Martin, Huntsville AL, Courtesy “Night of the Comet” (NASA / Ames)
- Copyright
- No copyright notice on the entry. Check the credited institution’s own usage rules before reusing it.
- Explanation length
- About 200 words