[00:00:00.05]
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[This is early data from the testing phase of NASA's Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS).]
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[00:00:06.22]
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[It captured not only a comet, but also a number of other interesting features.]
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[00:00:12.42]
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[00:00:18.53]
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[NEOWISE Comet C/2018 N1]
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[00:00:24.65]
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[Notice how the comet tail changes direction.]
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[00:00:30.89]
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[This change is due to the solar wind.]
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[00:00:36.94]
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[These are variable stars whose brightness changes over time.]
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[00:00:42.95]
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[All the other fixed spots are stars. Their appearance results from image processing that
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[00:00:49.03]
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makes the comet and variable stars more visible.]
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[00:00:55.20]
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[00:00:57.28]
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[TESS even saw a faint wisp of reflected light coming from Mars.]
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[00:01:03.37]
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[00:01:09.56]
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[00:01:15.66]
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[Last, but not least, this view is filled with asteroids. They're visible as small moving white dots.]
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[00:01:21.79]
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[Quickly running the video back and forth makes their movement more apparent.]
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[00:01:27.99]
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