Comet McNaught over Siding Spring Observatory buildings, Australia. This comet, also known as C/2006 P1, was the brightest to appear in the sky since

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Comet McNaught over Siding Spring Observatory buildings, Australia. This comet, also known as C/2006 P1, was the brightest to appear in the sky since Ikeya-Seki in 1965. It was discovered on 7th August 2006 by Rob McNaught, using the Uppsala Southern Schmidt Telescope (in the dome at right). The comet attained a maximum brightness of magnitude -6 around 14th January. The tail is formed of particles of ice and dust expelled by the comet as it was heated by the Sun. The other buildings house the ROTSE instrument (centre) and the Automated Patrol Telescope (left). Photographed at 10:27 GMT on 26th January 2007.

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Size: 4368px × 2912px
Photo credit: © ROBERT MCNAUGHT/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

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