Comets and Asteroids Pictures

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Here are some cool comets and asteroids pictures. You can make any of these images into your computer desktop wallpaper. Just click on an image to enlarge it, and then choose “Set as Desktop Background”.

Asteroid 951 Gaspra

Here’s an image of asteroid 951 Gaspra which was captured by the spacecraft Galileo on October 29, 1991. Gaspra was discovered in 1916 by G. N. Neujmin, a Russian astronomer and was the first asteroid to be closely approached in space.

Halley's Comet

This image of Halley’s Comet was captured on May 13, 1910 from the Lowell Observatory in Arizona. Comet Halley was discovered by the English astronomer Edmond Halley in 1705. Halley’s Comet’s last appearance in the inner Solar System was in 1986.

Asteroid Ida

This composite image of the asteroid 243 Ida comes from the different images obtained by the Galileo spacecraft’s imaging system on August 28, 1993. Asteroid Ida was the second asteroid visited by the Galileo spacecraft after Gaspra.

Comet Lulin

Here’s an view of the Comet Lulin as seen from the Shenandoah National Park in Virginia. This image was taken on February 23, 2009. Comet Lulin was discovered by Ye Quanzhi and Lin Chi-Sheng from Lulin Observatory where it got its name.

Stardust Image of Asteroid Annefrank

This image of asteroid 5535 Annefrank was captured by NASA’s Stardust spacecraft on November 2, 2002. This image is the result of the practice flyby activity of Stardust Space Probe.

We have written many articles about asteroids and comets for Universe Today. Here’s an article about the difference between asteroids and comets, and here’s an article about comet dust similar to asteroids.

If you’d like more information on comets and asteroids, check out NASA’s Solar System Exploration Guide to Comets, and here’s a link to Hubblesite’s News Releases about Asteroids.

We’ve also recorded an episode of Astronomy Cast just about Comets. Listen here, Episode 19: Comets, Our Icy Friends from the Outer Solar System. We also have recorded an episode about Asteroids. Check out, Episode 55: The Asteroid Belt.

Tagged as: asteroid, asteroid belt, asteroid Ida, Comet Lulin, Comets, gaspra, halley's comet