Images of Comet Lovejoy in Orbit Around the Sun

Comet Lovejoy circles the sun

Comet Lovejoy approaches and leaves the Sun's orbit (image from NASA)

On December 15-16, 2011 Comet Lovejoy (whose officially name is C/2011 W3) came within 87,000 miles of the sun’s surface at speed of 400 miles per second. Nobody thought it would be able to survive its orbit around the sun because it would be exposed to temperatures reaching almost 2 million degrees Fahrenheit for nearly an hour. But it did some out the other side as shown in the photograph above. The original estimates of the size of Lovejoy had it being about 200 yards in diameter, but because it survived the orbit it is now estimated that it had a diameter of over 500 yards. Of course, it is thought to be smaller now as much of it likely burnt off during that hour it was exposed to such high temperatures.

​Here's a close view of the comet entering the sun's orbit.

Closeup of comet Lovejoy leaving sun's orbit

​Here's a great video with a look at the comet's orbit and background on NASA's Solar Observing Fleet.