Clues from the Comet of the Century

Immediately after co-discovering Comet ISON the night of Sept. 21, 2012, Russian astronomer Vitali Nevski trumpeted it as a “comet of the century.” Although it initially fell short as visual spectacle, Comet ISON has fully lived up to its billing as a scientific sensation. 

“It’s letting us look at material that formed 4.56 billion years ago and learn about the initial conditions that helped lead to the planets,” says Comet ISON Observing Campaign (CIOC) leader Carey Lisse.

Subscribe and get 10 issues packed with:The latest news, theories and developments in the world of scienceCompelling stories and breakthroughs in health, medicine and the mindEnvironmental issues and their relevance to daily lifeCutting-edge technology and its impact on our futureRegistration is FREE and takes only a few seconds to complete. If you are already registered on DiscoverMagazine.com, please log in.

View the original article here