The National Astronomical Research Institute page posted that under the sunlight from the hot sun. While everyone was looking for an umbrella to escape from the sun, did you know that In the sky, there is still someone who stands to challenge the sun god.
The SOHO space telescope, or Solar and Heliospheric Observatory, is a space telescope dedicated to observing the Sun. It was launched into space on December 2, 1995, as a result of a joint effort between the European Space Agency (ESA) and NASA (NASA) of the United States. Its orbit is between the Earth and the Sun at the Lagrange point L1, 1.5 million kilometers from Earth.
And recently, the SOHO telescope discovered a small icy object rushing close to the sun. It is considered a short period comet. With an orbital period of about 5.3 years, it is the 5,000th comet from all comets ever discovered.
SOHO has equipment designed to block glare from the center of the Sun. And it leaves room at the edge for studying the thin, difficult-to-observe corona atmosphere. Includes observing the properties of the solar system. This capability allows SOHO to see other objects near the Sun as well. Especially comets that “slingshot” or come close to the sun before being thrown out. This is the time when comets moved closest to the sun. Astronomers call this comet period a “sungrazer,” or “sun explorer.”
The comet, which was discovered as a small frozen lump, was discovered on Monday, March 25, 2023, as it passed close to the Sun. It is believed to be a fragment that broke away from Comet 96P/Machholz, a comet about 6 kilometers across with an orbital period of 5.3 years around the Sun It recently made a close approach to the Sun in January 2023 and with an orbit that is very close to the sun. Comets may be broken apart They become smaller offspring or offspring of comets that are still going around the sun.
SOHO’s 5,000th comet was discovered by Hanjie Tan, an astronomy doctoral student from Prague. Czech Republic He has been part of NASA’s Sungrazer Project observing comets since he was 13 years old, he studied the path of comet 96P/Machholz, which passed close to the Sun in 2023. orbit and finally found a new comet. Data indicate that Comet 96P/Machholz continues to eject fragments of itself, eventually creating many new comets.
SOHO’s discovery of 5,000 comets is not just a numerical statistic or proof of how astronomers have found comets. But it is also a valuable database that astronomers can further analyze to find out about the orbital motions of other comets. Includes various properties of objects in this field.
In addition, the Sun’s magnetic field is known to directly affect the shape and appearance of comet tails. That means studying comets that pass close to the sun like this. It will be able to help astronomers study the sun’s invisible magnetic field and see its effects through the study of these comets.
