Comet ISON may have survived close encounter with Sun
DOI: 10.1063/PT.5.027545
Science : Although astronomers at first thought comet ISON did not survive perihelion on 28 November, a new report from NASA says that a remnant of the comet has now been detected in the form of a faint, diffuse cloud. As the comet passed by, the Sun’s heat and gravitational pull caused it to brighten and fade repeatedly. When NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory at one point lost sight of it, astronomers believed it had disintegrated completely. Now, however, telescopes have detected a much diminished object spewing gas and dust, which indicates the comet’s nucleus may still be intact. To monitor ISON’s progress, check out the Comet ISON Observing Campaign website .
