Comet Lulin will make its closest approach to Earth on February 24, and while it will probably be hard to see with the naked eye, astronomers think the "fresh" new comet has the potential to brighten rapidly, to do something unexpected. Comet Lulin is arriving from the far reaches of the solar system on a nearly parabolic orbit, as if it come from infinity.
The comet's orbit is in nearly the same plane as Earth's but is traveling in the opposite direction. This causes Lulin to appear to move unusually fast and display a rare anti-tail—an optical effect that creates a secondary "tail" pointing toward the sun.
Pictures from non light polluted sites already showing Lulin's rare anti-tail.
www.ruppel.darkhorizons.org/IMAGES/N3_false_color_012409.jpg
As seen from Griffith Observatory tomsastroblog.com/?p=2760#
Closeup view at: www.flickr.com/photos/edhiker/3233606737
More can be found on Google www.google.com/search?sa=N&tab=nw&q=Comet%20Lulin
Camera setup used: www.flickr.com/photos/edhiker/3132751114/
Many pictures at: www.aerith.net/comet/catalog/2007N3/pictures.html
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47s x9 ISO800 f8 300mm
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Comet_Lulin_x9_Darker_Sat_090128_Q70


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