Comet Austin develops an ion tail

Comet Austin develops an ion tail. This photo is a reproduction of a photographic plate, obtained with the ESO Schmidt telescope at La Silla in the evening of February 24, 1990 (Feb. 25.0 Universal Time). It was made on blue-sensitive emulsion during evening twilight, only 15 degrees above the horizon. The telescope was set to follow the comet's motion; this is why the images of stars are trailed. The reproduction has been photographically amplified to bring out better the details in the faint tails.