Hubble Space Telescope Discovers the Largest Comet Ever Seen
Discovery of the Bernardinelli-Bernstein Comet
In 2010, astronomers Pedro Bernardinelli and Gary Bernstein stumbled upon a faint point of light in archival images from the Dark Energy Survey. Little did they know that this distant object would turn out to be the largest comet ever discovered.
Confirmation with the Hubble Space Telescope
In January 2022, the research team used the Hubble Space Telescope to confirm the comet’s colossal size. By analyzing five images, they were able to differentiate the comet’s solid nucleus from its surrounding coma and long tail.
Size and Origin
The Bernardinelli-Bernstein comet, officially known as C/2014 UN271, stretches an astonishing 80 miles wide, making it larger than the state of Rhode Island. Its nucleus is 50 times larger than the average comet core.
The comet is believed to have originated in the Oort cloud, a distant region of icy bodies located on the outskirts of our solar system. It is thought that gravitational forces from massive planets like Jupiter and Saturn ejected the comet from the inner solar system billions of years ago.
Orbit and Composition
The Bernardinelli-Bernstein comet is currently two billion miles from the sun and orbits the sun every 3 million years. Its surface temperature is a frigid minus 348 degrees Fahrenheit. Despite the extreme cold, the comet emits carbon monoxide gas, creating a cloud of dust and gas around its nucleus.
Significance and Future Observations
The Bernardinelli-Bernstein comet offers a unique opportunity for scientists to study comets from the Oort cloud. By analyzing its composition and behavior, astronomers hope to gain insights into the formation and evolution of our solar system.
Expected Closest Approach
The comet is expected to make its closest approach to the sun in 2031, when it will come within one billion miles. While it will not be visible to the naked eye, astronomers will have a prime opportunity to study this celestial giant using telescopes.
Additional Long-Tail Keyword Questions and Answers
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What is the Oort cloud? The Oort cloud is a spherical region of icy bodies located on the outskirts of our solar system. It is thought to contain billions of comets and asteroids.
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How do comets form? Comets are formed from the leftover debris from the formation of our solar system. They are composed of ice, dust, and rock.
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Why is the Bernardinelli-Bernstein comet so bright? The Bernardinelli-Bernstein comet is exceptionally bright because of its large size and its proximity to the sun. As it gets closer to the sun, its coma will expand, making it even brighter.
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What can scientists learn from studying the Bernardinelli-Bernstein comet? By studying the Bernardinelli-Bernstein comet, scientists hope to gain insights into the composition and behavior of comets from the Oort cloud. This will help them better understand the formation and evolution of our solar system.
