354-stardust-comet-probe-dixon – The Stardust Probe Approaches Comet Wilde 2. An automated robotic spacecraft performs a close flyby of an active comet nucleus, encountering hypervelocity dust particles that strike its protective shields with bright, microscopic impacts. In the background, the dark, irregular nucleus forcefully vents linear jets of gas and dust into a sprawling, vibrant blue coma filled with intricate radial filaments. The probe is positioned directly in front of the comet's primary dust stream, catching a glint of sunlight on its main bus and solar arrays against the deep black of space. digital, for Sciantific American
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