NIRCam image of Comet 238P/Read (annotated)

This image of Comet 238P/Read was captured by the NIRCam (Near-Infrared Camera) instrument on the NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Space Telescope on 8 September 2022. It displays the hazy halo, called the coma, and tail that are characteristic of comets, as opposed to asteroids. The dusty coma and tail result from the vapourisation of ices as the Sun warms the main body of the comet.

[Image description: In the centre of a black image, a small glowing, hazy point glows white, surrounded by blue that trails off to the lower right.]

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