Video: Ice Comet Lovejoy Survives Its Narrow Brush With the Sun

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Video: Ice Comet Lovejoy Survives Its Narrow Brush With the Sun

Paul Adams

at 02:59 AM Dec 17 2011

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Comet Lovejoy Plunges Toward the Sun

NASA

Space //

Yesterday, comet fans were glued to their observatories as Lovejoy, a brave comet made of ice and dirt, headed on a collision course into the sun. The outcomes of these match-ups are pretty much foregone conclusions: the proverbial snowball's chance in Hell.

But Lovejoy! Lovejoy zipped right past the sun, enduring temperatures over one million degrees, and came out the other side with just a little melt damage.

The Solar Dynamics Observatory recorded the remarkable escape. Hope you guys didn't wager the kids' presents on the mighty sun.