More on the Biggest Comet

Using data from the completed ESA/NASA Ulysses mission, scientists have identified a new candidate for biggest comet. Results of these findings were presented today at the Royal Astronomical Society's National Astronomy Meeting in Glasgow by Ulysses science team member Geriant Jones of University College, London

The primary mission of the Ulysses spacecraft was to characterize the sun's heliosphere as a function of solar latitude. The heliosphere is the vast region of interplanetary space occupied by the sun's atmosphere and dominated by the outflow of the solar wind. To study the heliosphere, Ulysses was placed into a six-year orbit around the sun that carried it out to Jupiter's orbit and back. Covering such a vast expanse of space provided unique and unexpected opportunities for the spacecraft. During its more than 17-year mission, Ulysses had three unplanned encounters with comet tails. (See Ulysses Catches Record for Catching Comets by Their Tails - http://www.nasa.gov/vision/universe/solarsystem/ulysses-20071019.html )

Scientists combed the data of a chance 2007 encounter Ulysses made with the tail of comet McNaught.…

See News and Features - NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory for links to further info.

Also see Universe Today.