Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer.
Comets become fountains of gas and dust as they get near the Sun .
Solar heat vaporizes the outer layers of these spectacular orbiting icebergs , exposing caverns of pressurized gas that erupt into jets . The above digitally enhanced image of Comet Hale-Bopp was taken on January 29 th and highlights several of these dust jets. Here, background stars appear as faint raised streaks. Comet Hale-Bopp is currently brighter than most stars, and is visible in the morning sky . Comet Hale-Bopp will continue to brighten and develop an extended tail until April.