Hitting the Brakes: Hubble Space Telescope Watches Doomed Comet Reverse Its Spin

Hitting the brakes: Hubble Space Telescope watches doomed comet reverse its spin

The unprecedented observations of comet 41P/Tuttle–Giacobini–Kresák show its rotation slowing, reversing and then speeding up, and jet-like outbursts of gas might be providing the push.

Comet 41P: Motion Reversal Animation

Comet 41P: Motion Reversal Animation | Hubble Space TelescopeThis artist’s concept depicts Comet 41P as it approached the Sun and frozen gases began to sublimate off the comet’s surface. This animation only depicts one jet, but this comet may have multiple streams of material ejecting into space. This jet is pushing against the comet’s spin, then forcing it in the opposite direction. Small fragments of the comet are also shown spewing into space…

NASA's Hubble Detects First-Ever Spin Reversal of Tiny Comet

To skywatchers, comets often appear as soft, glowing smudges drifting across the night sky - cosmic cotton balls with faint tails. But behind that fuzzy appearance are surprisingly active worlds. Scientists studying the comet 41P/Tuttle-Giacobini-Kresak with NASA's Hubble Space Telescope have found evidence that jets of gas erupting from its surface may have slowed the comet's spin to a stop and then restarted it in the opposite direction.

NASA's Hubble finds comet with reversed spin for first time.

A recent discovery by astronomers using NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope has shed light on the fascinating behavior of a small comet known as 41P/Tuttle-Giacobini-Kresák. This comet, which likely originated in the Kuiper Belt and is now on a 5.4-year orbit around the inner solar system, has shown a peculiar change in its rotation. After a […]

NASA's Hubble Detects First-Ever Spin Reversal of Tiny Comet - NASA Science

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