APOD 3.2

The Complex Ion Tail of Comet Lovejoy: http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap150121.html

The comet's tail is made out of ionized gas, which is gas energized by ultraviolet light from the Sun and pushed by solar wind. The solar wind is quite complex due to the Sun's magnetic field. Structure in the ion tail can be seen to move away from the Sun following the wind. Recombining carbon monoxide molecules leads to the blue color in the comet, while the green color is created by diatomic carbon molecules. The next time Comet Lovejoy returns is in 8,000 years.