Comet ISON is inside the orbit of Earth

Comet ISON has almost completed its journey from the Oort Cloud to Sun's photosphere and is now inside the orbit of Earth. On November 28, 2013 Comet ISON will fly only 1 million kilometers (2.7 solar radii) above Sun's surface, through temperature about 5000 degrees Fahrenheit, hot enough to vaporize much of the dust and rock on ISON’s surface. ISON’s growing dust tail now stretches nearly half a degree or a full moon’s diameter.

The comet will be moving very fast, about 400 km/s at perihelion and nobody can tell for sure what to expect but one thing is sure – it will be really, really interesting time for all astronomy lovers.

Recent observations show a second ion or gas tail feature emerging from the comet’s coma.  

Amateur astronomer Damian Peach took this image which shows second tail feature emerging from ISON's coma on November 6, 2013 (Credit: Damian Peach)

The overall magnitude of the comet has been slowly but steadily rising. For now it is estimated as bright as 8.0. Seiichi Yoshida predicts another half magnitude brightening over the next few days.

Comet ISON's position on November 8, 2013 relative to STEREO A and STEREO B spacecrafts, Sun, Venus, Mercury, Mars and Earth. (Credit: NASA/STEREO)

There are still three most possible scenarios for Comet ISON's interaction with Sun. It could disintegrate well before perihelion, just like C/1999 S4 LINEAR  in 2000 or Elenin in 2011. It could disintegrate during the perihelion or it could survive as some others before like Lovejoy or McNaught. Time will tell. 

• Weekly Information about Bright Comets 

• Approaching Comet C/2012 S1 – "ISON" – UPDATES

Featured image: Damian Peach