The Meteor and the Comet

The Meteor and the Comet

Image Credit & Copyright:
Wang Hao;
Processing: Song Wentao

Explanation:
How different are these two streaks?

The streak on the upper right is
Comet Tsuchinshan-Atlas showing an
impressive dust tail.

The comet is a large and dirty iceberg that entered the inner
Solar System and is
shedding gas and dust
as it is warmed by the Sun’s light.

The streak on the lower left is a
meteor showing an impressive
evaporation trail.

The meteor is a small and cold rock that entered the
Earth’s atmosphere and is shedding gas and dust as it is
warmed by molecular collisions.

The meteor was likely once part of a comet or
asteroid — perhaps later composing part of its tail.

The meteor was
gone in a flash
and was only caught by coincidence during a
series of exposures documenting the
comet’s long tail.

The featured image was captured just over a month ago from
Sichuan Province in
China.