October 20, 2011
You share your birthday with the light of distant galaxies that has been traveling for millions of years just to arrive here, now, alongside...
Tails of Comet Garradd
Birthday · October 20, 2011
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APOD published October 20, 2011. Credit: Gregg Ruppel. A publication-date match, not a photo taken on your date. Independent of NASA.
A good target for binoculars and small telescopes, Comet Garradd (C/2009 P1) now shines in planet Earth's evening skies, a steady performer but just below naked-eye visibility. Telescopic images like this composite from October 15 can find the comet with a lovely green coma, sporting multiple tails, and lingering against a background of faint stars. The field of view spans over 1 degree or about 2 full moons within the southern boundaries of the constellation Hercules. Now around 16 light minutes (2 astronomical units) away, P1 Garradd is an intrinsically large comet, but will never make a very close approach to Earth or the Sun while sweeping through the inner solar system. As a result, the comet will likely stay a sight for telescopic eyes only, moving slowly through the sky and remaining in Hercules during the coming months.
Image credit: Gregg Ruppel