CHART OF THE WEEK: Comet Approaching - ABC Online

Ison comet hurtling toward the inner solar system. He promised a magnificent sky spectacles and could be at Christmas time in the firmament – if he does not break during the flyby of the sun

From the icy edge of the solar system, the comet hurtling Ison approach . With the naked eye it is according to the forecasts of astronomers from 18 November can be seen in the morning twilight. Ten days later, he passed the sun. Then it will reach its peak brightness and might be visible in addition to our central star in the daytime. In early December, he reappears at dawn, just before Christmas, he stands all night in the firmament. However, this development is by no means certain: When approaching the sun, the comet heats up greatly, so that his core could evaporate or break. Would fall from the sky spectacle.

Erdpassage Our Planet comes Ison on 20 November next, with 128 million kilometers distance. Its top speed. 377 kilometers per second

In the departure Ison reached this position in early December at his departure. After he was obscured by the sun, it is visible from Earth again.

sungrazer These are comets that fly by close to the Sun. Ison is one of this type: it passes the Sun’s surface in 1.1 million km distance

comet tail He is up to 100 million kilometers long and has a gas and a dust component.. He is due to solar radiation and wind always directed away from the sun.

Dirty snowball comets are made of ice and frozen gases, is incorporated into the interplanetary dust. When approaching the sun warms its core. Ice and gases down through the surface and evaporate. They entrain dust particles. From this cloud of the comet’s tail develops. The core of Ison has about four kilometers in diameter.