Comet that passed by Mars formed a new layer of primordial dust in the thin atmosphere.
The Comet’s dust caused a great threat to three spacecrafts that orbits around Mars. These orbiters directly came in contact with the dust and ice particles of the Siding Spring Comet. These particles compel the orbiters to stay at a distance from the Red Planet.
Fortunately, it turned out as a really wise decision of experts since the distance allowed orbiters to gather samples and several information related to that event.
Jim Green, director of planetary science at NASA expressed that after some time scientists realized the benefits hiding these orbits behind Mars. It saved the orbiters from the damage of several tons of ice and dust elements.
The Siding comet flyby around 140,000 kilometers away from the Red planet on the 19th of October. The gap of this measure is equivalent to the one third of the distance between the Moon and the Earth. Shortly after this once in a history incident Martian skies turned into yellowish shades. The yellow color emerged due to the sodium in vaporized dust dumped by the Comet Siding Spring.
Nick Schneider, planetary scientist informed that it gave birth to numerous shooting stars that created an incredible view.
The scientists named this comet after the Australian Astronomical Observatory. It was first recognized last year in the month of January. However, Anglo-Australian Observatory is its official name.