Subaru Telescope reveals shape, temperature of Comet Encke's nucleus

Astronomers using Japan's Subaru Telescope have revealed the shape and surface temperature of Comet Encke's nucleus. They found the nucleus is elongated, measuring about 7 km along its long axis and 3 km along its short axis, with a surface temperature of around 55°C. The comet is named after 19th-century German astronomer Johann Encke, who studied its orbit in detail.