Astrophotographer captures Mercury with a comet-like tail

Bobo.id – Guys, have you ever caught sight of a comet with a tail at night?

Recently, an astrophotographer captured the intriguing sight of what Mercury suspects has a tail, much like a comet crossing the sky.

From the dark night sky, Mercury’s tail can be seen striped in the night sky.

Many people don’t know that Mercury can have a tail, like comets in general.

Reported from space.comMercury’s comet-like tail is made of sodium ions, which are scattered from the planet’s surface by the solar wind and micro meteor impacts.

Scientists have known that Mercury has tails since 2001.

According to the scientist’s research, Mercury’s tail can grow and shrink depending on its position of proximity to the Sun.

According to spaceweather.comMercury’s tail can stretch for 24 million kilometers at its peak.

The length of the tail is due to Mercury’s very weak atmosphere and its close position to the Sun, making it easier for the solar wind to nudge the planet’s surface.

The view of this ‘tailed’ Mercury can be seen clearly from Earth, exactly 16 days after perihelion.

Mercury reaches perihelion on April 1, which means the tail will be especially bright on April 17.

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