Comet Hergenrother is currently traversing the inner-solar system. Amateur and professional astronomers alike have been following the icy-dirt ball over the past several weeks as it has been generating a series of impressive outbursts of cometary-dust material. Now comes word that the comet’s nucleus has taken the next step in its relationship with Mother Nature. The nucleus of the comet has separated into at least four distinct pieces resulting in a large increase in dust material in its coma. The comet fragments are considerably fainter than the nucleus. This is suggestive of chunks of material being ejected from the surface. With more material to reflect the sun’s rays, the comet’s coma has brightened considerably.
For those interested in viewing Hergenrother, with a larger-sized telescope and a dark sky, the comet can be seen in between the constellations of Andromeda and Lacerta.
