Photos of Comet ISON: A Potentially Great Comet

Hubble's Views of Comet ISON

NASA, ESA, and Z. Levay (STScI)

These images of Comet ISON were taken by NASA's Hubble Space Telescope on April 10, 2013, when the comet was 386 million miles from the sun. The image at right has been computer-processed to reveal the structure of ISON's inner coma. [Full Story]

Comet ISON Sky Map

NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center/Axel Mellinger

From now through October, comet ISON tracks through the constellations Gemini, Cancer and Leo as it falls toward the sun. Image released March 29, 2013.

SWIFT Satellite Sees Comet ISON

NASA/Swift/D. Bodewits, UMCP

The Ultraviolet/Optical Telescope aboard NASA's Swift imaged comet ISON (center) on Jan. 30, when it was located about 3.3 degrees from the bright star Castor in the constellation Gemini. At the time of this 5.5-minute optical exposure, ISON was about 5,000 times fainter than the limit of human vision. Image released March 29, 2013.

Orbital Trajectory of Comet C/2012 S1 (ISON)

NASA/JPL-Caltech

This is the orbital trajectory of comet C/2012 S1 (ISON). The comet is currently located just inside the orbit of Jupiter. In November 2013, ISON will pass less than 1.1 million miles (1.8 million kilometers) from the sun's surface. The fierce heating it experiences during this close approach to the sun could turn the comet into a bright naked-eye object. Image released Feb. 5, 2013. [Read the full story]

Comet ISON in Telescope View

Science@NASA

This still from a NASA video identifies comet C/2012 S1 (ISON), better known as Comet ISON, in a telescope image.

Comet ISON's Discoverers

Science@NASA/John Chumack

The discoverers of Comet C/2012 S1 (ISON), Vitaly Neski and Artyom Novichonok, are seen here inset against a photo of the comet by amateur astronomer John Chumack.

Comet ISON Orbit 2013

Science@NASA

The orbit of Comet C/2012 S1 (ISON), better known as Comet ISON, is seen here in this still image from a NASA video. This image shows the location of Comet ISON in January 2013.

Comet C/2012 S1 (ISON) Sky Map

rnesto Guido, Giovanni Sostero & Nick Howes

This star map (calculated for latitude 46 deg. north, time about 45 minutes before sunrise) for Nov. 10, 2013 shows the comet position of Comet C/2012 S1 (ISON). Image released Sept. 24, 2012.

Comet ISON: Dec. 11, 2013

Science@NASA

This still from a NASA video depicts the location of Comet ISON in the night sky on Dec. 11, 2013. The comet has the potential to be a dazzling object in the night sky.

Comet C/2012 S1 (ISON) False Color Image

Remanzacco Observatory/Ernesto Guido, Giovanni Sostero & Nick Howes

Comet C/2012 S1 (ISON) photographed at the RAS Observatory near Mayhill, NM on Sept. 22, 2012, by amateur astronomers Ernesto Guido, Giovanni Sostero and Nick Howes of the Remanzacco Observatory.

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