NASA's Planet-Hunting TESS Catches a Comet Before Starting Science

Before NASA's new planet-hunting telescope, Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS), was set to start the science portion of its mission, it caught sight of a fascinating set of celestial happenings, which the agency has shared in a new video. In the video TESS focused on a handful of other phenomena that astronomers call transients because of their temporary appearance in the sky. The most obvious was a comet called C/2018 N1, which crosses the field of view from right to left. The instrument captured enough detail about the object to watch its tail change directions in response to the flow of the solar wind coming from the sun. TESS also observed two variable stars, which brighten and dim at a regular pace. 

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NASA's New Planet-Hunting Telescope Catches a Comet and Other Celestial Sights

NASA's Planet-hunting TESS catches a comet before starting science