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European Space Agency

Press Release

Surf the Web to see the Sun-dancing comet
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12 February 2003

Only the most dedicated of sky watchers will have seen the latest
comet, called C/2002 V1 (NEAT). It has hovered near the limits of
naked-eye visibility in the evening sky since January 2003. 

However, you would need a pair of binoculars, pointed in exactly the
right direction, to see anything. Log onto the Internet instead, and
let the ESA/NASA space probe SOHO show you more about this comet than
you would usually see. 

The Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) is an ESA/NASA space
probe to study the Sun. One of its instruments is the Large Angle and
Spectrometric Coronagraph (LASCO) that blots out the disc of the Sun,
creating an artificial total eclipse. LASCO is a spectacular
comet-observing tool because of its combination of high sensitivity
and large field of view.

The Sun's large gravitational field provides the central force for
comet orbits. Comets themselves are icy messengers, often from the
outer Solar System that fall through the inner solar system, before
heading back into the celestial reaches. On the way, they provide
observers on Earth and in space with fleeting opportunities to catch a 
glimpse.

Astronomers discover comets all the time. If first seen by individual
observers, they are named after the discoverer. Nowadays, more and
more comets are first seen by automated telescope patrols, designed to 
scan the skies looking for objects that could pass close to Earth.
These discoveries are given catalogue references, as is the case for
Comet C/2002 V1.

The last comet to pass through the SOHO field of view made its journey 
during the last week of January 2003. Now, armchair observers all 
around the world have a chance to view another comet, C/2002 V1.  This 
time, the show may be more spectacular because C/2002 V1 (NEAT) will 
pass very closely by the Sun.

The comet was discovered by NASA's Near Earth Asteroid Tracking
programme (NEAT). At that time, it was 25 000 times fainter than the
human eye can perceive. Initially, the comet became so bright that
astronomers wondered whether they would be able to see it during the
day, as it rounded the Sun.

During January 2003, the comet failed to brighten as hoped. Now, it is 
expected to disappear from view to Earth-bound observers about 11
February 2003, as it heads towards the Sun for its closest approach on 
18 February 2003. It will not be lost from all sight, however, as in 
space, SOHO will be watching. Astronomers expect C/2002 V1 (NEAT) to 
pass into LASCO instrument's field of view, early on 16 February and 
stay there until 20 February.

It will pass by the Sun at less than a tenth of the distance between
the Earth and the Sun. There is a small chance that the Sun's
gravitational field could pull it to pieces. "Even if that doesn't
happen, the fly-by itself should be impressive enough," says Bernhard
Fleck, SOHO Project Scientist. 

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