How NASA Space Assets Will Observe Comet ISON
NASA has quite the space fleet tracking ISON:
Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO): SDO will have the ability to observe ISON under extreme-ultraviolet light when the comet is closest to the sun.
Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO): SOHO will observe ISON as it passes by the sun in late November.
Solar TErrestrial RElations Observatory (STEREO): STEREO will observe ISON as it passes by on its way to sun in late November.
MErcury Surface, Space ENvironment, GEochemistry, and Ranging (MESSENGER): MESSENGER will observe ISON as it passes by Mercury on November 19 on its way to the sun.
Balloon Rapid Response for ISON (BRRISON): This sub-orbital balloon will be launched in mid-September to study ISON from above nearly all of the Earth's atmosphere.
FORTIS: This sounding rocket will be launched in mid-to-late November to obtain ultra-violet spectra from ISON.
Hubble Space Telescope: The Hubble Space Telescope observed ISON in April–May and will see it again in October and December (if ISON survives).
Spitzer Space Telescope: The Spitzer Space Telescope observed ISON on June 13. The comet was 310 million miles away from the sun.
International Space Station: Astronauts will be able to observe Comet ISON as it passes by Earth in late November.
Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO): LRO will observe ISON as it passes by the moon in late November.
Swift: In January and March, Swift observed ISON when it was 460 million miles away from the sun.
Curiosity Rover: Curiousity will observe ISON as it passes by Mars. Closest approach is October 1.
Opportunity Rover: Opportunity will observe ISON as it passes by Mars on its way to the sun on October 1.
Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO): MRO will observe ISON as it passes by Mars. Closest approach is October 1.
Deep Impact: Deep Impact imaged ISON for the first time on January 17 and 18 from 493 million miles away.
Ground-based observers include:
Image Credit: NASA
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