Will approaching comet survive its brush with the Sun?
DOI: 10.1063/PT.5.027410
Nature : A comet that has been steadily making its way through the solar system is proving to be a rich subject for study by astronomers. First detected on 21 September 2012 by Russian scientists using a telescope with the International Scientific Optical Network, comet ISON appears to be about 1–4 km in diameter and is due to fly past Earth on 28 November of this year. Astronomers believe that the comet may be large enough to survive the Sun’s extreme heat but could still be tidally disrupted as it passes by. If the comet does make it around the Sun, it could be visible to the naked eye. But no matter the outcome, much can be learned about both the Sun and comets in general by observing the comet’s passage. In 2011, for example, Comet Lovejoy provided insight into the Sun’s magnetic field lines.
