Space Weather News for January 7, 2001
http://www.spaceweather.com

Periodic comet 96P/Machholz is heating up. Every 5.24 years the comet
swings remarkably close to the Sun, and this week is one of those times.
The comet is growing a long bright tail as it plunges toward our star.

Unfortunately, humans can't see the comet so close to the glaring Sun, but
coronagraphs on board the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) will
be able to observe the unfolding encounter. The comet appeared yesterday
within SOHO's field of view and will remain so for the next few days.

Unlike many Sun-approaching comets, notably the "Kreutz sungrazers,"
96P/Machholz is expected to survive its fiery encounter. Perihelion
(closest approach to the Sun) will take place on January 8th at a distance
of 0.12 AU.

Visit SpaceWeather.com for movies of the present encounter (and one that
happened 5 years ago) as well as links to more information.