Comet Elenin as seen by NASA's STEREO spacecraft on Aug. 6, 2011.
Amateur astronomer Michael Mattiazzo of Castlemaine, Australia caught these two images of comet Elenin on Aug. 19 (left) and Sept. 6, 2011. The images show a rapid dimming in the comet, possibly hinting at its disintegration.
The trajectory of Comet Elenin in relation to other objects in the solar system.
Skywatcher Michael Mattiazzo got this image of comet Elenin, August 19, 2011, in the southern hemisphere.
Skywatcher Michael Mattiazzo got this image of comet Elenin, September 1, 2011, in the southern hemisphere.
Skywatcher Michael Mattiazzo got this image of comet Elenin, August 23, 2011, in the southern hemisphere.
This sky map shows where to look to spot the comet Elenin in August 2011.
Skywatcher Michael Mattiazzo got this image of comet Elenin (marked), March 27, 2011, in the southern hemisphere.
Two telescopes operated by astronomers at the Marshall Space Flight Center just stopped scanning the skies for Comet Elenin, which began fading and breaking apart back in August. Now only empty space marks its close approach (22 million miles) to Earth. However, a meteor and the barred spiral galaxy NGC-2903 grace the top of this October 14, 2011, image.
Trajectory of comet Elenin.
