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COMET ISON BREAKS UP!

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The Comet of the Century will not be.

In literally breaking news, Comet ISON appears to have broken up. Images from Sun-focused space telescopes show the comet, or has-been comet has turned into a a streak without any visible head.

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Highlights

By Marshall Connolly (NEWS CONSORTIUM)
Catholic Online (https://www.catholic.org)
11/28/2013 (1 decade ago)

Published in Technology

Keywords: Comet ISON, Sun, breakup, loss

LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - Images of Comet ISON strongly suggest the comet has broken up. Astronomer Phillip Plait speculates that based on the latest imagery Comet ISON has broken up just before reaching its closest approach to the sun.

Last night, ISON reportedly increased dramatically in brightness, then faded after several minutes. This is consistent with the breakup of a comet's nucleus. The latest images show the comet as a streak of dust as opposed to a proper comet with a well-defined head.

Having broken up, Comet ISON will not be visible to observers on Earth, since it has become a streak of dust.

Perihelion is a dangerous time for comets, especially for comets passing so close to the Sun. The gravitational force of the Sun is so powerful that its tidal forces often break apart close-passing (sungrazing) comets as they approach.

That ISON has broken up remains unconfirmed, but the images appear to suggest the comet is done.

The breakup of the comet is not all bad news. Scientists can no use the breakup to study the comet's composition as well as the Sun's outer atmosphere.

A birth foretold: click here to learn more!

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