Encore - Comet Garradd in 3-D
June 17, 2017
Today and every Saturday Earth Science Picture of the Day invites you to rediscover favorites from the past. Saturday posts feature an EPOD that was chosen by viewers like you in our monthly Viewers' Choice polls. Join us as we look back at these intriguing and captivating images.
Stereo Photographer: Brian May
Photographer: Greg Parker
Summary Author: Greg Parker; Brian May
T
he stereo image above shows Comet Garradd as observed in early March 2012 from the New Forest Observatory in Brockenhurst, England. Its nearest approach to Earth occurred on March 5 when it was 117.7 million miles distant (1.27 astronomical units). At that time, Garradd was found near the bowl of the Little Dipper in the constellation of the Ursa Minor. Look for it now, with binoculars, near the bowl of the Big Dipper in Ursa Major.
This image is composed of two sub-images having a time separation of approximately 20 minutes. Note that in order to create this stereo pair, a bit of Photoshop manipulation is involved –- simply setting two sub-exposures side-by-side wouldn’t create such an impressive 3-D image. The pair can be viewed by free viewing and by using a stereo viewer such as the OWL. Click here for instructions on how to view using both of these methods.