A new bright comet diving into the Sun is visible right now (July 05, 21UT) in C3 and C2 images taken by SOHO spacecraft. This object belong to the famous Kreutz-group, a family of sungrazing comets that are named after German astronomer Heinrich Kreutz who first studied them in the details. These comet fragments passes extremely close to the Sun at perihelion and usually they completely evaporated during such a close approach.
C2 Image - July 05, 2011 (click to see a bigger version)
C3 & C2 Movies - (click on the thumbnails to see a bigger version)
(Credit : SOHO)
You can read more details about latest bright SOHO comets here:
http://remanzacco.blogspot.com/2011/05/bright-sungrazing-comet-on-may-10-11.html
http://remanzacco.blogspot.com/2010/11/bright-sungrazing-comet-on-november-17.html
http://remanzacco.blogspot.com/2010/11/bright-sungrazing-comet-on-1314.html
http://remanzacco.blogspot.com/2010/10/new-bright-sungrazing-comet.html
http://remanzacco.blogspot.com/2010/04/new-bright-sungrazing-comet.html
http://remanzacco.blogspot.com/2010/01/bright-sungrazing-comet.html
http://remanzacco.blogspot.com/2010/01/new-sungrazing-comet.html
http://remanzacco.blogspot.com/2010/03/new-sungrazing-comet.html
UPDATE - July 08, 2011
For the first time ever, SDO (Solar Dynamics Observatory) captured a 20-minute movie of the comet streaking directly in front of the sun. It's not immediately obvious, but if you watch the movie closely, you'll see a line of light appear in the right and move across to the left.
Below you can see the incredible movie captured by SDO's AIA instrument (click here or on the thumbnail to see the video).
(Credit: NASA SDO)
While by clicking here you can see a beautiful LASCO/SOHO view of this Kreutz comet!!
by Ernesto Guido
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