Comet 2P/Encke in STEREO HI-1A

This is comet 2P/Encke in our SECCHI HI-1 instrument on NASA's STEREO-A satellite in April 2006.

Here we see Encke on the left, gradually heading towards the Sun (which is outside of the camera field of view, off to the right). All of the waves of material you see coming from the right is the solar wind and solar outflows. About a quarter of the way into the sequence, a large coronal mass ejection (CME) is seen erupting from the Sun. When that CME hits Encke, it's tail is completely ripped off!

Note that in order to enhance these images, we used a "differencing" processing technique that results in the high contrast black/white shadowing effect you see, and makes the background stars look a little odd.

[jamesmohhenghai]

Wow ..!! Awesome stuff !! Thanks Sungrazer Cometd !!