April 11, 2016
Another birthday means another year in which the universe got to experience itself through your particular combination of wonder and will.
The Comet and the Star Cluster
Birthday · April 11, 2016
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APOD published April 11, 2016. Credit: Jos� J. Chamb� (Cometografia). A publication-date match, not a photo taken on your date. Independent of NASA.
Comet Linear has become unexpectedly bright. The comet, discovered in 2000, underwent a 100-fold outburst just a week before it passed a mere 14 lunar distances from Earth late last month. The comet was captured here last week at about magnitude 6 -- just bright enough to be seen by the unaided eye -- passing in front of the distant globular star cluster M14. Comet 252/P LINEAR is one of a rare group of comets that vacillate between the Earth and Jupiter every 5 years. How the comet will evolve from here is unknown, but hopes run high that it will remain a good object for binoculars in northern skies for the next week or two.
Image credit: Jos� J. Chamb� (Cometografia)