<p>A high-resolution (but out-of-focus) picture shows the flurry of particles around the nucleus of comet 103P/Hartley 2. NASA's Epoxi mission flew close to the nucleus earlier this month, snapping more than 32,000 images.<br><br>A new analysis of the pictures reveals that the comet is surrounded by a "snowstorm" of relatively large particles—some up to the size of basketballs, scientists say.<br><br><a id="acu9" title="Find out how scientists got a look at the snowstorm around comet Hartley 2 >>" href="http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2010/11/101118-science-space-comet-hartley-2-snow-ice-nasa/">Find out how scientists got a look at the snowstorm around comet Hartley 2 &gt;&gt;</a></p>

Comet's Snowstorm

A high-resolution (but out-of-focus) picture shows the flurry of particles around the nucleus of comet 103P/Hartley 2. NASA's Epoxi mission flew close to the nucleus earlier this month, snapping more than 32,000 images.

A new analysis of the pictures reveals that the comet is surrounded by a "snowstorm" of relatively large particles—some up to the size of basketballs, scientists say.

Find out how scientists got a look at the snowstorm around comet Hartley 2 >>

Image courtesy NASA/JPL-Caltech/UMD

New Comet Pictures: How Hartley 2 Creates "Snowstorm"

A detailed dive into NASA's pictures of comet Hartley 2 shows how the odd body's reservoir of dry ice drives a flurry of particles.

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