News Release Archive: Solar System

News Release 65 of 143

March 27, 1998 12:00 AM (EST)

News Release Number: STScI-1998-13

Comet Hyakutake

The Hubble telescope has probed the inner regions of Comet Hyakutake. This picture captures sunlight scattered by dust particles in the comet's inner coma.

The coma is the head or dusty-gas atmosphere surrounding a comet's icy nucleus. This image will help astronomers understand the effects of sunlight on the comet's icy central region.


Credit: M. Combi (University of Michigan)