Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer. A rare coincidence was recently captured by the orbiting SOHO spacecraft . During the closest approach to the Sun of Comet Hyakutake on May 1, SOHO photographed the comet . Therefore, at the top of this false-color picture, Comet Hyakutake is visible, while emission to the left of the Sun is a solar flare. SOHO was launched in December of 1995 and contains many instruments which study the Sun.
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