Comet Death Dive Into Sun Seen in Detail for 1st Time

In summary, a comet has been observed disintegrating in the atmosphere of the sun for the first time. This is a common occurrence, but until now, no comet had been seen surviving entry into the sun's atmosphere. The comet belongs to the Kreutz family and many graze the sun, but some also hit it. In one instance, a comet named Lovejoy was able to survive its dive into the sun and even grew a new tail on the other side. Thanks to instruments like the Solar Dynamics Observatory, we are able to witness these incredible events in nature.
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Comet's Death Dive Into Sun Seen in Detail for 1st Time
http://www.space.com/14288-sungrazing-comet-death-dive-sun-observed.html
by Charles Q. Choi, SPACE.com Contributor
Date: 19 January 2012

A comet has been spotted disintegrating in the atmosphere of the sun for the first time.

Such sun-diving comets are common but none have been seen surviving entry into the sun's atmosphere until now. . . .
I was surprised to learn that sun-diving comets are common. I guess in the past, sun-diving comets simply disappeared, i.e., we knew they approached the sun, but did not reappear.

Now a single comet is an insignificant amount of mass compared to the sun, but I wonder how many comets the sun has collected over the eons, and how much of the carbon, oxygen in the sun has been contributed by comets.
 
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Cool. Maybe next time when they see a comets heading straight towards the sun, they can focus the cameras on the impact
 
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Back in May 2011, another comet apparently got close to - or hit - the sun.

http://www.space.com/11663-comet-hits-sun-solar-explosion.html

These comets belong to the Kreutz family.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kreutz_Sungrazers

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/12/111213165028.htm

On the origin of the Kreutz family of sun-grazing comets (paper from 1967)
http://adsabs.harvard.edu/full/1967BAICz..18..198S


Apparently many graze the sun, but some hit it. Ostensibly, this happens with other stars.
 
  • #4
http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/videogallery/index.html?media_id=124915541
Comet Lovejoy Dives Toward the Sun

NOTE: This video loops 3 times. An instrument on the Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) adjusted its cameras in order to watch the trajectory of Comet Lovejoy. . . . . The movie from SDO was made the evening of Dec 15, 2011 and shows Comet Lovejoy moving in toward the sun.
 
  • #5
Astronuc said:
Comet Lovejoy Dives Toward the Sun

The poor little thing, it lost its tail and wriggled excitedly as it plunged through the million K solar corona - but fearlessly, Lovejoy survived to grow a spectacular new tail on the other side of the sun. Whew!

What a spectacular show nature puts on for us when we have the instruments to observe it. I am grateful to NASA, and consider my tax well-spent in this case.

Respectfully submitted,
Steve
 

What is the "Comet Death Dive Into Sun Seen in Detail for 1st Time"?

The "Comet Death Dive Into Sun Seen in Detail for 1st Time" is a phenomenon that occurs when a comet enters the sun's corona and disintegrates due to the intense heat and radiation.

How is this event captured in detail for the first time?

The event is captured in detail for the first time through the use of high-resolution telescopes and spacecraft, such as NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) and the ESA/NASA Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO).

Why is this event significant to scientists?

This event is significant to scientists because it provides valuable insights into the composition and behavior of comets, as well as the dynamics of the sun's corona. It also helps in understanding how the sun's magnetic field and solar winds affect objects that come close to it.

What can we learn from studying this event?

Studying this event can help us better understand the formation and evolution of comets, as well as the processes that occur in the sun's corona. It can also provide clues about the early stages of our solar system and how it may have looked billions of years ago.

Are there any potential implications for Earth?

While there are no direct implications for Earth from this event, understanding the behavior of comets and the sun's corona can help us better prepare for potential dangers, such as solar storms, that could affect our planet in the future.

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