                        Astronomy Picture of the Day

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                    written by a professional astronomer.

                              2021 November 13

                          Rosetta's Comet in Gemini
       Image Credit & Copyright: Rolando Ligustri (CARA Project, CAST)

   Explanation: Returning along its 6.4 year orbit, periodic comet
   Churyumov-Gerasimenko (67P) is caught in this telescopic frame from
   November 7. Sweeping past background stars in the constellation Gemini
   the comet's dusty tail stretches toward the upper right to Upsilon
   Geminorum. Also known as Pollux, Beta Geminorum, Gemini's brightest
   star, shines just off the upper left edge of the field-of-view.
   Churyumov-Gerasimenko reached its 2021 perihelion or closest approach
   to the Sun on November 2. At perigee, its closest approach to planet
   Earth on November 12, this comet was about 0.42 astronomical units
   away, though it remains too faint to be seen by eye alone. The
   well-studied comet was explored by robots from planet Earth during its
   last trip through the inner solar system. It's now famous as the final
   resting place for the historic Rosetta spacecraft and Philae lander.

                     Tomorrow's picture: What that was.
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       Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff (MTU) & Jerry Bonnell (UMCP)
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