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January 19, 2012
Catching a Comet Death on Camera
But an ultra bright comet, from a group known as the Kreutz comets, overturned all preconceived notions. The comet can clearly be viewed moving in over the right side of the sun, disappearing 20 minutes later as it evaporates in the searing heat. --Seen at NASA
Posted by gerardvanderleun at January 19, 2012 3:29 PM. This is an entry on the sideblog of American Digest: Check it out.
Your Say
I knew about the Kreutz family of comets, but I didn't know that a new one is discovered every three days. Wow. The original must have broken up so long ago that fragments are scattered all along its orbit, and move towards the sun like they're on a conveyor belt.
Some Kreutz sungrazers which are large enough survive their close shave with the sun, and have been among the most spectacular comets seen in the past few centuries. The most recent example was Comet Lovejoy, which surprised everyone back in December by surviving its passage behind the Sun and became a bright "Christmas comet" in the southern hemisphere.
The Wiki page about Kreutz Sungrazers is very interesting. I've never seen a daylight comet, but I hope I do someday. And the "grandparent" must have been an amazing sight long ago.
Posted by: rickl at January 19, 2012 6:38 PM