Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Comet defies death, brushes up to sun and lives

WASHINGTON—A small comet survived what astronomers figured would be a sure death when it danced uncomfortably close to the broiling sun.

Comet Lovejoy, which was only discovered a couple of weeks ago, was supposed to melt Thursday night when it came close to where temperatures hit several million degrees. Astronomers had tracked 2,000 other sun-grazing comets make the same suicidal trip. None had ever survived. http://www.boston.com/news/science/articles/2011/12/16/comet_defies_death_brushes_up_to_sun_and_lives/

Article courtesy of The Boston Globe by Seth Borenstein Associated Press Science Writer