October 30, 2007
The universe does not repeat itself. Every sunrise is unique, every snowflake singular, and every birthday yours alone.
Comet Holmes' Coma Expands
Birthday · October 30, 2007
A little universe, just for you
Your date.
Ready to give.
Free PNG · 1080 × 1350 · No account needed
Image rights and credit requirements apply when sharing or reusing imagery.
Date & occasion only
Change the year
APOD published October 30, 2007. Credit: Eric Allen Observatoire du C�gep de Trois-Rivi�res. A publication-date match, not a photo taken on your date. Independent of NASA.
Go outside tonight and see Comet Holmes. No binoculars or telescopes are needed -- just curiosity and a sky map. Last week, Comet 17P/Holmes underwent an unusual outburst that vaulted it unexpectedly from obscurity into one of the brightest comets in recent years. Sky enthusiasts from the northern hemisphere have been following the comet's progress closely. In this animation recorded from Quebec, Canada, the coma of Comet Holmes is seen noticeably expanding over the past few days. Jupiter has been placed artificially nearby to allow for a comparison of angular sizes and scaled to the size it would appear at the current location of Comet Holmes. How Comet Holmes will further evolve is unknown, with one possibility being that the expanding gas cloud that started from its recent outburst will slowly disperse and fade.
Image credit: Eric Allen Observatoire du C�gep de Trois-Rivi�res