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Two NASA astronauts currently on the International Space Station (ISS) have been closely observing a comet that is making its way toward the sun, taking advantage of this celestial event to capture stunning images and videos.
Matthew Dominick and Don Pettit, both known for their incredible contributions to space photography, have been tracking comet C2023-A3, also referred to as Tsuchinshan-ATLAS, for about a week. They have been sharing their observations on social media platforms.
In a recent video shared on Wednesday that showcases the comet, Dominick commented, “The comet tail is noticeably longer each day. If you pause the video around the 15-second mark, you can see how the comet’s tail appears to bend. The atmosphere becomes denser as you approach Earth, and variations in its density alter the refractive index, causing the tail to appear bent.”
Dominick explained that the video is a time-lapse shot at eight frames per second. The images were taken with a 200mm lens at a 1/8-second exposure with about five minutes between each shot, resulting in a time-lapse that reflects the speed at which they see the comet from the window. The comet’s movement upward in the frame is a result of the ISS’s orbit around the Earth at a speed of 17,500 miles per hour.
Pettit expressed his excitement about witnessing the comet from orbit on his X account, noting, “It is truly awe-inspiring to see a comet from this perspective. Observing it from above the atmosphere offers a unique view. Although the comet’s tail is currently too faint to see with the naked eye, it is moving closer to the sun and getting brighter each day.”
The comet is also visible in the morning skies for those in Australia and New Zealand. If it continues to brighten in the upcoming days, it may become visible to a wider audience around the globe.
Dominick shared in a post how fortunate he and his fellow astronauts feel to witness such extraordinary occurrences from space, mentioning, “Recently, we reflected on how grateful we are to have experienced incredible auroras, a solar eclipse, and now a comet during our time on the ISS.”
Comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS is anticipated to garner more visibility in the coming days, providing an exciting opportunity for skywatchers everywhere.
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