Rare Comet Streaks Into View

The Lulin comet travels past Saturn starting tomorrow
By Amelia Atlas,  Newser Staff
Posted Feb 22, 2009 5:44 PM CST
Rare Comet Streaks Into View
Comet Lulin as it passes through the constellation Libra when Swift imaged it. An optical illusion makes it appear as if the comet's tail is in the front as the comet approaches Earth and the sun.    (AP Photo/NASA)

Comet Lulin will travel into sight tomorrow, says Wired. The rare chance for a glimpse comes as the comet passes 38 million miles from Earth, traveling south-southwest of Saturn and visible to the naked eye at night. NASA astronomers, tracking the comet with the Swift Gamma-Ray Explorer satellite, report that the comet is dumping 800 gallons of water per second—enough to fill an Olympic swimming pool in less than 15 minutes.
(More NASA stories.)

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