After Surviving Close Encounter With Sun, Comet Lovejoy Photographed From ISS

Back in November, astronomers discovered comet Lovejoy. The discovery was somewhat muted, however, as it was predicted to be vaporized when it swung by the sun this month. Defying all expectations, the comet survived and came back around the other side of our star and has been putting on a spectacular show for sky watchers in the southern hemisphere. Just a few days ago, astronaut Dan Burbank aboard the International Space Station, snapped this picture of Lovejoy, the little piece of space debris that could.

Here’s Lovejoy’s surprising flight, grazing the sun, as seen by NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory.

And here’s how Lovejoy looks in Australia.

(NASA via Universe Today)

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Max Eddy