Incredible space photo labelled as ‘best image of dying comet ever’

A PRIZE-WINNING image of a dying comet has stunned both photography contest judges and the internet.

Austrian astrophotographer Gerald Rhemann won the award for Astronomy Photographer of the Year from the Royal Observatory Greenwich for this snapshot.

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The photo depicts a disconnection event – the point at which solar particles tear off a comet’s tail from the comet itself.

“Astronomy, myth and art come together beautifully in this shot,” said competition judge Imad Ahmed.

“It holds great value to scientists, as it elegantly captures a disconnection event.”

Rhemann took the photo in Namibia on Christmas Day in 2021 and submitted it in the Planets, Comets, and Asteroids category of the Royal Observatory Greenwich contest for 2022.

“A piece of Comet Leonard’s tail was pinched off and carried away by the solar wind,” Rhemann said.

“I was very lucky that the weather at Tivoli Farm, Namibia, was excellent when I opened the roof of the observatory.

“I recognized that the comet’s tail looked dramatic in the first image I took, so decided to extend the field of view with a second image and that’s where the disconnection happened.”

Live Science reported that Comet Leonard will carry on toward interstellar space and will not pass through inner Solar System again.

The Royal Observatory Greenwich announced the photo, called Disconnection Event, as the winner in a virtual ceremony on September 15.

One quarter of the submissions to the Planets, Comets, and Asteroids category depicted Comet Leonard, according contest organizer Royal Museums Greenwich.

Eleven other spectacular photographs were also recognized, including images of the International Space Station, the aurora borealis over Iceland, and glittering sun spots.

Two of the runners-up also featured Comet Leonard in action.

A full gallery of celebrated photos from 10 categories can be viewed for free on the Royal Museums Greenwich website.