Comet Caught on Camera Flying into the Sun

The comet (@ 4 o'clock) caught on camera in July of 2011 by the SOHO, launched into space in 1995, the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory, is a project of international collaboration between NASA and ESA to study the sun from its deep core to its outer corona and the solar wind. The photograph is made possible by blocking out the intense light of the sun (outlined in white) by a device called a coronascope. The comet was recorded by NASA over a 20 minute time span and was completely vaporized. The comet was approximately the size of an aircraft carrier and was part of the Kruetz family of comets believed to be remnants of a giant parent comet that broke apart some 2,500 years ago. (UPI)