images

Halley's Comet

by

J.Lodriguss/J.Martinez/Novapix

Reference

a-com03-00010

Date

2007-01-04

Glowing at 6th magnitude, Comet Halley exhibits a faint 90 degree wide fan-shaped dust tail. The dust tail is very difficult to see in this photo because it is superimposed on the bright background of the Milky Way. The blue ion tail is a bit easier to see, trailing off to the upper right of the coma. This photo was taken on April 10 1986, the day of Halley's closest approach to the Earth. Stars appear as streaks because the photo was guided on the comet which was moving rapidly relative to the starry background.