- #1
Ostsol
- 12
- 0
I've gotten into an amusing discussion with another individual on the topic of the apparent size of comets as seen in SOHO satellite images of Sungrazing or Sun-impacting comets. I won't go into the crackpot conspiracy theories I've heard, but will instead ask: why do these tiny comets appear so large in the images (relative to the Sun itself)?
My own thoughts have led to two potential answers, but I'm still a little unsure. Here they are:
1) The comets reflect a great deal of intense light as a result of their proximity to the Sun and this results in pixel-bleeding on the CCDs. Thus, they appear much larger than they really are.
2) The comets disintegrate as a result of receiving so much solar radiation and the cloud of debris around them can become very large.
I guess it could be a combination of both, too.
Am I on the right track?
My own thoughts have led to two potential answers, but I'm still a little unsure. Here they are:
1) The comets reflect a great deal of intense light as a result of their proximity to the Sun and this results in pixel-bleeding on the CCDs. Thus, they appear much larger than they really are.
2) The comets disintegrate as a result of receiving so much solar radiation and the cloud of debris around them can become very large.
I guess it could be a combination of both, too.
Am I on the right track?