Anti-tail: Difference between revisions
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[[File:Anti-tail.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Showing how a comet may appear to exhibit a short tail pointing in the opposite direction to its type II or dust tail as viewed from Earth i.e. an antitail]] |
[[File:Anti-tail.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Showing how a comet may appear to exhibit a short tail pointing in the opposite direction to its type II or dust tail as viewed from Earth i.e. an antitail]] |
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An '''antitail''' is an apparent spike projecting from a [[comet]]'s [[Coma (cometary)|coma]] which seems to go towards the [[Sun]], and thus geometrically opposite to the other [[Comet tail|tails]]: the ''ion tail'' and the ''dust tail''. However, this phenomenon is an [[optical illusion]] that is seen from the [[Earth]]. The antitail consists of larger [[Comet dust|dust particles]], which are less affected by the Sun's [[Solar radiation pressure|radiation pressure]] and tend to remain roughly in the comet's [[orbital plane]] and eventually form a disc along the comet's orbit due to the ejection speed of the particles from the comet's surface. As Earth passes through the comet's orbital plane, this disc is seen side on, and appears as the characteristic spike.<ref>{{cite web|title=Encyclopedia of science:antitail|url=http://www.daviddarling.info/encyclopedia/A/antitail.html}}</ref> The other side of the disc can sometimes be seen, though it tends to be lost in the dust tail. The antitail is therefore normally visible for a brief interval only when Earth passes through the comet's orbital plane.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.space.com/spacewatch/090206-ns-comet-lulin.html|title=Newfound Comet Lulin to Grace Night Skies |last=Rao|first= Joe |date=6 February 2009|publisher=[[SPACE.com]]|access-date=2009-02-25| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090226001704/http://www.space.com/spacewatch/090206-ns-comet-lulin.html| archive-date= 26 February 2009 <!--DASHBot-->| url-status= live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_yM063m-CN3M/SZ9YzVzA0OI/AAAAAAAAANk/627phmwTv14/s1600-h/antitail.jpg|title=What is an antitail|last=Tosar|first=Borja|author2=Paolo Candy|work=3.bp.blogspot|access-date=2009-02-25| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090225130604/http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_yM063m-CN3M/SZ9YzVzA0OI/AAAAAAAAANk/627phmwTv14/s1600-h/antitail.jpg| archive-date= 25 February 2009 <!--DASHBot-->| url-status= live}}</ref> |
An '''antitail''' is an apparent spike projecting from a [[comet]]'s [[Coma (cometary)|coma]] which seems to go towards the [[Sun]], and thus geometrically opposite to the other [[Comet tail|tails]]: the ''ion tail'' and the ''dust tail''. However, this phenomenon is an [[optical illusion]] that is seen from the [[Earth]]. The antitail consists of larger [[Comet dust|dust particles]], which are less affected by the Sun's [[Solar radiation pressure|radiation pressure]] and tend to remain roughly in the comet's [[orbital plane]] and eventually form a disc along the comet's orbit due to the ejection speed of the particles from the comet's surface. As Earth passes through the comet's orbital plane, this disc is seen side on, and appears as the characteristic spike.<ref name="arendroland">{{cite web|title=Encyclopedia of science:antitail|url=http://www.daviddarling.info/encyclopedia/A/antitail.html| author=David Darling| date=2016}}</ref> The other side of the disc can sometimes be seen, though it tends to be lost in the dust tail. The antitail is therefore normally visible for a brief interval only when Earth passes through the comet's orbital plane.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.space.com/spacewatch/090206-ns-comet-lulin.html|title=Newfound Comet Lulin to Grace Night Skies |last=Rao|first= Joe |date=6 February 2009|publisher=[[SPACE.com]]|access-date=2009-02-25| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090226001704/http://www.space.com/spacewatch/090206-ns-comet-lulin.html| archive-date= 26 February 2009 <!--DASHBot-->| url-status= live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_yM063m-CN3M/SZ9YzVzA0OI/AAAAAAAAANk/627phmwTv14/s1600-h/antitail.jpg|title=What is an antitail|last=Tosar|first=Borja|author2=Paolo Candy|work=3.bp.blogspot|access-date=2009-02-25| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090225130604/http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_yM063m-CN3M/SZ9YzVzA0OI/AAAAAAAAANk/627phmwTv14/s1600-h/antitail.jpg| archive-date= 25 February 2009 <!--DASHBot-->| url-status= live}}</ref> |
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Most comets do not develop sufficiently for an antitail to become visible, but notable comets that did display antitails include [[Comet Arend–Roland]] in 1957, [[Comet Kohoutek]] in 1973,<ref>{{cite journal |title=Statement of John E. Naugle, Associate Administrator for Space Science, NASA: Comet Kohoutek Program |journal=Hearings Before the Subcommittee on Space Science and Applications |first1=John E. |last1=Naugles |volume=25 |issue=3 |pages=401 |date=7 March 1974 |location=Washington DC |department=Committee on Science and Astronautics U.S. House of Representatives |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QVAVAAAAIAAJ&pg=PA401 |access-date=2021-11-10 |url-status= live |quote=[drawing on page 403] the Skylab crewmen observed a brilliant spike or anti tail projecting toward the Sun from the head of Kohoutek [...] Dr Zdenek Sekanina concluded that the spike was not wholly due to a perspective or geometrical effect as has been assumed in previous comet studies.}}</ref> [[Comet Hale–Bopp]] in 1997, [[Comet PANSTARRS]] in 2013, and [[C/2022 E3 (ZTF)]] in 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |last=published |first=Harry Baker |date=2023-01-27 |title=Optical illusion gives rare green comet an 'anti-tail' that seemingly defies physics |url=https://www.space.com/green-comet-anti-tail-illusion |access-date=2023-01-28 |website=Space.com |language=en}}</ref> |
Most comets do not develop sufficiently for an antitail to become visible, but notable comets that did display antitails include [[Comet Arend–Roland]] in 1957<ref name="arendroland"/>, [[Comet Kohoutek]] in 1973,<ref>{{cite journal |title=Statement of John E. Naugle, Associate Administrator for Space Science, NASA: Comet Kohoutek Program |journal=Hearings Before the Subcommittee on Space Science and Applications |first1=John E. |last1=Naugles |volume=25 |issue=3 |pages=401 |date=7 March 1974 |location=Washington DC |department=Committee on Science and Astronautics U.S. House of Representatives |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QVAVAAAAIAAJ&pg=PA401 |access-date=2021-11-10 |url-status= live |quote=[drawing on page 403] the Skylab crewmen observed a brilliant spike or anti tail projecting toward the Sun from the head of Kohoutek [...] Dr Zdenek Sekanina concluded that the spike was not wholly due to a perspective or geometrical effect as has been assumed in previous comet studies.}}</ref> [[Comet Hale–Bopp]] in 1997, [[Comet PANSTARRS]] in 2013, and [[C/2022 E3 (ZTF)]] in 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |last=published |first=Harry Baker |date=2023-01-27 |title=Optical illusion gives rare green comet an 'anti-tail' that seemingly defies physics |url=https://www.space.com/green-comet-anti-tail-illusion |access-date=2023-01-28 |website=Space.com |language=en}}</ref> |
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==See also== |
==See also== |
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==Notes== |
==Notes== |
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{{Reflist}} |
{{Reflist}} |
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* [http://media-2.web.britannica.com/eb-media/01/4301-004-0F459752.jpg Image of Comet Arend-Roland with prominent antitail] |
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== External links == |
== External links == |
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* {{cite web|url=http://www.planetary.org/blogs/emily-lakdawalla/2009/1853.html |author=Emily Lakdawalla|title=Got binoculars? Spot a comet near Saturn tonight|date=2009-02-23}} |
* {{cite web|url=http://www.planetary.org/blogs/emily-lakdawalla/2009/1853.html |author=Emily Lakdawalla|title=Got binoculars? Spot a comet near Saturn tonight|date=2009-02-23}} |
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* [http://www.daviddarling.info/encyclopedia/A/antitail.html |
* [http://www.daviddarling.info/encyclopedia/A/antitail.html Photo of Comet Arend-Roland in 1957 with prominent antitail.] |
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{{Comets|nonobject=yes}} |
{{Comets|nonobject=yes}} |
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Revision as of 02:58, 31 January 2023
An antitail is an apparent spike projecting from a comet's coma which seems to go towards the Sun, and thus geometrically opposite to the other tails: the ion tail and the dust tail. However, this phenomenon is an optical illusion that is seen from the Earth. The antitail consists of larger dust particles, which are less affected by the Sun's radiation pressure and tend to remain roughly in the comet's orbital plane and eventually form a disc along the comet's orbit due to the ejection speed of the particles from the comet's surface. As Earth passes through the comet's orbital plane, this disc is seen side on, and appears as the characteristic spike.[1] The other side of the disc can sometimes be seen, though it tends to be lost in the dust tail. The antitail is therefore normally visible for a brief interval only when Earth passes through the comet's orbital plane.[2][3]
Most comets do not develop sufficiently for an antitail to become visible, but notable comets that did display antitails include Comet Arend–Roland in 1957[1], Comet Kohoutek in 1973,[4] Comet Hale–Bopp in 1997, Comet PANSTARRS in 2013, and C/2022 E3 (ZTF) in 2023.[5]
See also
- Comet tail
- The coma and tail at the main Comet article.
Notes
- ^ a b David Darling (2016). "Encyclopedia of science:antitail".
- ^ Rao, Joe (6 February 2009). "Newfound Comet Lulin to Grace Night Skies". SPACE.com. Archived from the original on 26 February 2009. Retrieved 2009-02-25.
- ^ Tosar, Borja; Paolo Candy. "What is an antitail". 3.bp.blogspot. Archived from the original on 25 February 2009. Retrieved 2009-02-25.
- ^ Naugles, John E. (7 March 1974). "Statement of John E. Naugle, Associate Administrator for Space Science, NASA: Comet Kohoutek Program". Committee on Science and Astronautics U.S. House of Representatives. Hearings Before the Subcommittee on Space Science and Applications. 25 (3). Washington DC: 401. Retrieved 2021-11-10.
[drawing on page 403] the Skylab crewmen observed a brilliant spike or anti tail projecting toward the Sun from the head of Kohoutek [...] Dr Zdenek Sekanina concluded that the spike was not wholly due to a perspective or geometrical effect as has been assumed in previous comet studies.
{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ published, Harry Baker (2023-01-27). "Optical illusion gives rare green comet an 'anti-tail' that seemingly defies physics". Space.com. Retrieved 2023-01-28.
External links
- Emily Lakdawalla (2009-02-23). "Got binoculars? Spot a comet near Saturn tonight".
- Photo of Comet Arend-Roland in 1957 with prominent antitail.
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