Comet Siding Spring View From Mars

The dense inner coma reached the surface of the planet or nearly so.

Comet siding spring view from mars.

This animation and still image of comet c 2013 a1 siding spring were taken by the mast camera mastcam on nasa s curiosity mars rover as the comet passed near the red planet on oct. In orbit around mars were the spacecraft mars reconnaissance orbiter 2001 mars odyssey esa s mars express maven and the indian mars orbiter mission mangalyaan. Comet siding spring seen next to mars. Nasa s extensive fleet of science assets particularly those orbiting and roving mars have front row seats to image and study this once in a lifetime flyby.

The close encounter between comet siding spring and mars flooded the planet with an invisible tide of charged particles from the comet s coma. 19 comet c 2013 a1 comet siding spring will pass within about 87 000 miles 139 500 km of mars. Nasa s hubble space telescope has produced a unique composite image of comet siding spring as it made its never before seen close passage of a comet by mars. 19 allowing scientists an unprecedented look at the comet as it flies by the red planet.

The faint comet shows a small condensed coma and bent tail. Comet siding spring flew about 87 000. The comet siding spring has made its close flyby of mars on oct. Nasa s mars exploration rover opportunity captured images of a comet passing much closer to mars than any previous known comet flyby of earth or mars.

Edt october 19 2014. The images of comet siding spring were taken against a backdrop of the pre dawn martian sky on sunday oct. Astrophotographer damian peach shares this spectacular image of comet c 2013 a1 siding spring approaching mars taken just hours ago.