Lovejoy Comet

Comet Lovejoy or C/2011 W3 is a comet and Kreutz Sungrazer. Kreutz Sungrazes are a family of Sungrazer comets that have orbits close to the Sun at perihelion. They are believed to be fragments of one large comet that broke up several centuries ago and are named for German astronomer Heinrich Kreutz, who first demonstrated that they were related.

The comet Lovejoy was discovered in November 2011 by Australian amateur astronomer Terry Lovejoy. The comet’s perihelion took it through the Sun’s corona on 16 December 2011, after which it emerged intact and continued on its orbit to the outer solar system. It is also known as the Great Birthday Comet of 2011 (as it was 16th birthday of SOHO satellite) and since it was visible from Earth during the Christmas holiday it was also nicknamed "The Great Christmas Comet of 2011".