Astronomy Picture of Day: the Tail of Comet SWAN# Astronomy - 天文
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The Ghostly Tail of Comet SWAN
Credit & Copyright: Ray Gralak
Explanation: What causes the structure in Comet SWAN's tail? Comet SWAN,
which unexpectedly flared up to naked-eye brightness last week, has been
showing detail in its ion tail that might be described as ghostly. The ion
tail is made of ionized gas, energized by ultraviolet light from the Sun and
pushed outward by the solar wind. The solar wind itself is quite structured
and sculpted by the Sun's complex and ever changing magnetic fie
Credit & Copyright: Ray Gralak
Explanation: What causes the structure in Comet SWAN's tail? Comet SWAN,
which unexpectedly flared up to naked-eye brightness last week, has been
showing detail in its ion tail that might be described as ghostly. The ion
tail is made of ionized gas, energized by ultraviolet light from the Sun and
pushed outward by the solar wind. The solar wind itself is quite structured
and sculpted by the Sun's complex and ever changing magnetic fie