Seeing Double: Stargazer Snaps Comet Illusion

PanSTARRS and Andromeda Galaxy Sweden Heden

P-M Heden took this image of Comet PanSTARRS and the Andromeda Galaxy from Tänndalen, Sweden. The image was released on April 3, 2013. (Image credit: P-M Heden / Clearskies.se / The World at Night)

Veteran Swedish stargazer captured the illusion of two comets soaring through the night sky in this beautiful photo.

Astrophotographer P-M Heden of The World at Night took this shot from Tänndalen, Sweden. The photo was released April 3, 2013.

While the image appears to look like a double comet, it's actually of the Comet Pan-STARRS (C/2011 L4) appearing with the Andromeda Galaxy, also known as M31. At the time the image was taken, both the comet and galaxy were similar in brightness, visible to the naked and both glowed red from the light of a nearby aurora giving the illusion of seeing double. [See more amazing photos of Comet Pan-STARRS]

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Nina Sen is a freelance writer and producer who covered night sky photography and astronomy for Space.com. She began writing and producing content for Space.com in 2011 with a focus on story and image production, as well as amazing space photos captured by NASA telescopes and other missions. Her work also includes coverage of amazing images by astrophotographers that showcase the night sky's beauty.