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                        Astronomy Picture of the Day

    Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our
      fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation
                    written by a professional astronomer.

                                2024 August 8

                         Periodic Comet Swift-Tuttle
                  Image Credit & Copyright: Gerald Rhemann

   Explanation: A Halley-type comet with an orbital period of about 133
   years, Comet 109P/Swift-Tuttle is recognized as the parent of the
   annual Perseid Meteor Shower. The comet's last visit to the inner Solar
   System was in 1992. Then, it did not become easily visible to the naked
   eye, but it did become bright enough to see from most locations with
   binoculars and small telescopes. This stunning color image of
   Swift-Tuttle's greenish coma, long ion tail and dust tail was recorded
   using film on November 24, 1992. That was about 16 days after the large
   periodic comet's closest approach to Earth. Comet Swift-Tuttle is
   expected to next make an impressive appearance in night skies in 2126.
   Meanwhile, dusty cometary debris left along the orbit of Swift-Tuttle
   will continue to be swept up creating planet Earth's best-known July
   and August meteor shower.

                    Tomorrow's picture: perseids in space
     __________________________________________________________________

       Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff (MTU) & Jerry Bonnell (UMCP)
            NASA Official: Amber Straughn Specific rights apply.
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                      A service of: ASD at NASA / GSFC,
                           NASA Science Activation
                             & Michigan Tech. U.

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