The image below shows Comet ISON before and after perihelion, it's closest approach to the sun. These images were taken by the LASCO instrument on the SOHO, the solar and heliospheric observatory. Using ultraviolet radiation, the coronographs that make up LASCO capture the sun and it's atmosphere as well as comet ISON's path. The sun and the bright light that it emits is blocked out by LASCO's central occulting disk. The white circle shows the Sun's actual position and scale. Many astronomers and avid viewers hoped that comet ISON would survive it's journey past the sun's perihelion. However, the images below show the faint remnants of the comet as it exits perihelion. The streak across the image may represent the remaining dust trail of comet ISON.
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