Unfortunate Comet Flies Too Close to the Sun, Disintegrates and Becomes a Ghost

The comet flew too close to the Sun and appears to have disintegrated during its closest approach, an apt metaphor for the space snowball.

A senior research specialist at the University of Arizona's Lunar and Planetary Laboratory named Gregory Leonard discovered the comet on January 3, 2019. It was as far away as Jupiter at the time, and was not particularly noteworthy until later that year, when amateur astronomer started suggesting that it might be starting to disintegrate.

Leonard made its closest approach to the Sun in January of this year. Astronomers watched as Leonard faded in the end of the comet chase. In February, it was a ghost, as seen in images taken by a robotic telescope.

Leonard says that a ghost has become an apt metaphor for the dust and gas that is likely to remain in its place.

He told EarthSky that he doesn't mind the fact that the comet may have disintegrated. With its nucleus possibly being destroyed, it may appear as a ghostly, hyperbolic wisp of dust and gas.

The paths of comets like Leonard are hard to predict. As the Sun warms theVolatile surface material gets expelled, causing them to move erratically.

According to EarthSky, comet Leonard had an oddly triangular shaped head and was off its predicted course.

The mile-across ice chunk came very close to us, so some experts were able to see it glinting in the night sky.

NASA and the European Space Agency were able to fly through its tail twice.

Leonard told EarthSky that he was thrilled when the comet began to track across the winter and autumn skies.

The encounter could teach us about the early days of our solar system.

Leonard told EarthSky that comets are older than dirt and speak to important questions of deep time.

Comets are full of surprises and remind us that we are not in control.

Leonard has disintegrated.

NASA spacecraft flies through the comet's tail.

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