C/2022 E3 (ZTF), a comet that has recently made headlines as it flies closer to Earth, briefly developed an ethereal third tail thanks to a weird optical illusion.
A rare green comet, which has been streaking across the night sky as it approaches Earth for the first time since the Stone Age, briefly grew a bizarre third tail. This"anti-tail" appeared to streak in the wrong direction, seemingly breaking the rules of physics.
Normally, comets like this have two tails: one made from dust, which is blown off the comet by solar wind; and one made of gas from within the comet that sublimates, or transitions, directly from solid to gas. But on Jan. 21, several astrophotographers, including Ruslan Merzlyakov in Denmark and Alessandro Carrozzi in Italy, snapped pictures of the green comet with a third tail that was pointed towards the sun instead of away from it.
The released gas eventually cools and becomes invisible, but the leftover dust is left to drift in the wake of the comet's trajectory around the sun, or orbital plane. When Earth crosses through a comet's orbital plane, some of this dust is reilluminated by the sun and appears as a bright streak, which can appear to shoot out of the comet in the opposite direction to its other tails, depending on the comet's trajectory and orientation.
Canada Latest News, Canada Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
How to see green comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF) as it approaches EarthDon't miss your chance to see this visitor from the outer reaches of our solar system as it prepares to make its closest approach to Earth.
Read more »
Here's how to observe comet 2022 E3 (ZTF) before it disappears foreverComet C/2022 E3 last flew near Earth 50,000 years ago. The comet is now visible from Earth again, though it will soon fly beyond our solar system, never to return. Find out more at 🚀 engineering interestingengineering
Read more »
Comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF) shines bright while closest to the sun in gorgeous photoComet C/2022 E3 (ZTF) is proving to be photogenic.
Read more »
Start the Steal? Trump Allies Suddenly OK with Mail-In VotingThe collapse of anti-democratic candidates in 2022 has scrambled Trump’s plans for 2024.
Read more »
Alabama sees record number of tornadoes in 20222022 was a record-breaking year for severe weather in Alabama. Last year, there were 98 tornadoes across Alabama according to preliminary data from the National Weather Service. That's the 2nd greatest number of tornadoes in the state on record.
Read more »
NOAA satellites helped save 397 lives in 2022NOAA satellites, which are crucial in weather and climate forecasts, helped rescue 397 people from potentially life-threatening situations throughout the U.S. and its surrounding waters in 2022. NOAA’s polar-orbiting and geostationary satellites are part of the global Search and Rescue Satellite Aided Tracking system, or CO
Read more »