                        Astronomy Picture of the Day

    Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our
      fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation
                    written by a professional astronomer.

                               2021 December 3

                     Comet Leonard and the Whale Galaxy
                   Image Credit & Copyright: Gregg Ruppel

   Explanation: Sweeping through northern predawn skies, on November 24
   Comet Leonard (C/2021 A1) was caught between two galaxies in this
   composite telescopic image. Sporting a greenish coma the comet's dusty
   tail seems to harpoon the heart of NGC 4631 (top) also known as the
   Whale Galaxy. Of course NGC 4631 and NGC 4656 (bottom, aka the Hockey
   Stick) are background galaxies some 25 million light-years away. On
   that date the comet was about 6 light-minutes from our fair planet. Its
   closest approach to Earth (and even closer approach to Venus) still to
   come, Comet Leonard will grow brighter in December. Already a good
   object for binoculars and small telescopes, this comet will likely not
   return to the inner Solar System. Its perihelion, or closest approach
   to the Sun, will be on January 3, 2022.

                      Tomorrow's picture: light-weekend
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       Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff (MTU) & Jerry Bonnell (UMCP)
            NASA Official: Phillip Newman Specific rights apply.
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