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These two Hubble Space Telescope images of comet C/2019 Y4 (ATLAS), taken on April 20 and 23, 2020, provide the sharpest views yet of the breakup of the fragile comet.

Hubble identified about 30 fragments on April 20, and 25 pieces on April 23. They are all enveloped in a sunlight-swept tail of cometary dust.

"Their appearance changes substantially between the two days, so much so that it's quite difficult to connect the dots," said David Jewitt, professor of planetary science and astronomy at UCLA, Los Angeles, and leader of one of two teams that photographed the doomed comet with Hubble. "I don't know whether this is because the individual pieces are flashing on and off as they reflect sunlight, acting like twinkling lights on a Christmas tree, or because different fragments appear on different days."

"This is really exciting – both because such events are super cool to watch and because they do not happen very often. Most comets that fragment are too dim to see. Events at such scale only happen once or twice a decade," said the leader of a second Hubble observing team, Quanzhi Ye, of the University of Maryland, College Park.

The results are evidence that comet fragmentation is actually fairly common, say researchers. It might even be the dominant mechanism by which the solid, icy nuclei of comets die. Because this happens quickly and unpredictably, astronomers remain largely uncertain about the cause of fragmentation.

Hubble's crisp images may yield new clues to the breakup. Hubble distinguishes pieces as small as the size of a house. Before the breakup, the entire nucleus may have been no more than the length of two football fields.

One idea is that the original nucleus spun itself into pieces because of the jet action of outgassing from sublimating ices. Because such venting is probably not evenly dispersed across the comet, it enhances the breakup. "Further analysis of the Hubble data might be able to show whether or not this mechanism is responsible," said Jewitt. "Regardless, it's quite special to get a look with Hubble at this dying comet."

The comet was discovered on Dec. 29, 2019, by the ATLAS (Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System) robotic astronomical survey system based in Hawaii. This NASA-supported survey project for Planetary Defense operates two autonomous telescopes that look for Earth-approaching comets and asteroids.

The comet brightened quickly until mid-March, and some astronomers anticipated that it might be visible to the naked eye in May to become one of the most spectacular comets seen in the last 20 years.

However, the comet abruptly started to get dimmer instead of brighter. Astronomers speculated that the icy core may be fragmenting, or even disintegrating. ATLAS' fragmentation was confirmed by amateur astronomer Jose de Queiroz, who was able to photograph around three pieces of the comet on April 11.

The disintegrating comet was approximately 91 million miles (146 million kilometers) from Earth when the latest Hubble observations were taken. If any of it survives, the comet will make its closest approach to Earth on May 23 at a distance of about 72 million miles (116 million kilometers), and eight days later it will skirt past the Sun at 25 million miles (40 million kilometers).

The Hubble Space Telescope is a project of international cooperation between NASA and ESA (European Space Agency). NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, manages the telescope. The Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI) in Baltimore conducts Hubble science operations. STScI is operated for NASA by the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy in Washington, D.C.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – The city of Lakeport announced on Friday that a portion of Library Park has been reopened to the public.

The lakefront area between Third Street and the north end of the Fifth Street parking area can now be used by the public for fishing and other outdoor recreational activities.

The main portion of Library Park between First and Third streets remains closed due to ongoing construction improvements and other factors including bathroom closures. City officials said they are working to reopen this portion of Library Park as soon as possible.

Although a portion of Library Park is reopening, social distancing and other guidelines still apply.

The city strongly encourages the following for anyone considering a visit:

– Stay at home if you are sick or do not feel well.
– Maintain at least 6 feet of distance between you and other park visitors.
– Consider bringing a cloth facial mask and wearing it when around other people.
– Prepare for limited or no bathroom access. The city of Lakeport plans to install portable toilets between Third and Fifth streets for the public’s use in the near future. The temporary portable toilets will be maintained by a private contractor and the city cannot guarantee they will be effectively sanitized. The public should be prepared to use their own hand sanitizer or other disinfectants if they use these facilities.
– Consider visiting earlier in the day so you can adjust plans if a park area is full. The city may be required to limit access if capacity is reached.
– Plan ahead. Plan to bring your own snacks, water and hand sanitizer.
– Carry your trash with you or dispose of it in the appropriate containers to help keep our staff safe and our parks litter-free.
– Overcrowding may cause this portion of Library Park to close again.
– All public boat ramps owned and maintained by the city of Lakeport remain closed per the order of the Lake County Public Health officer.

Visit the city’s COVID-19 webpage for more information related to the current virus situation: https://www.cityoflakeport.com/covid-19_updates.php .

Library Park lies along the west shore of Clear Lake in downtown Lakeport. It was established nearly 100 years ago and now includes more than three acres of land area. Owned and maintained by the City of Lakeport, it hosts numerous community events, including live music in its beautiful gazebo, which serves as the centerpiece of the park.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Beginning next week, the Lake County Health Services Department’s Public Health Division will provide a mobile COVID-19 sampling site.

Testing beginning on Tuesday, May 5, will occur in the Lakeport area, and subsequent locations around the county will be announced as they are arranged, Public Health said.

Public Health staff will see up to 50 preregistered people per day for testing in a drive-thru setting.

Sites will be open from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and results should be back within 48 to 72 hours.

If more than 50 people need the test on a given day, they will try to prioritize the most vulnerable.

Call 707-263-8174 to be transferred to a staff member for screening and registration. Additional information and forms will be posted on the Public Health website.

“This is a new process, and we appreciate the community’s patience as we ‘work out the kinks,’” said Public Health Officer Dr. Gary Pace. “We look forward to testing the folks that need it.”

Pace said that getting Lake County’s own test site up and running is highly significant, given the governor’s criteria for lifting shelter-in-place restrictions.

Until counties get adequate testing and contact tracing, the governor will be reluctant to loosen things up for more social and business activity.

Therefore, this new service will be a major step forward for Lake County in meeting these benchmarks, Pace said.

Pace said the value of this viral polymerase chain reaction test lies in determining if someone has the virus right now.

The antibody test, which is in the news a lot lately, is a different test that looks for previous infection, he said.

At least for the time being, no antibody testing will be available at Lake County’s mobile sites. These logistics may all change in the near future, Pace said.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The Board of Supervisors this week appointed a team of county staffers to negotiate with Lake Transit Agency for land that’s proposed to be used for a transit hub.

In a unanimous vote, the board appointed a negotiating team that includes County Administrative Officer Carol Huchingson and two of her deputies, Susan Parker and Stephen Carter, to discuss the sale of the county-owned land at 7175 S. Center Drive in Clearlake to Lake Transit.

Last week, the California State Transportation Agency awarded Lake Transit nearly $13 million for its plans for a new transit hub and four new hydrogen buses, as Lake County News has reported.

Lake Transit’s plans include the construction of the new transit hub – which will be part of a larger regional system which connects to the Bay Area, Sacramento and Shasta County – as well as the four new zero-emission buses, new infrastructure and workforce development in coordination with local community colleges.

In January, in support of the grant application, the Board of Supervisors approved a resolution declaring its South Center Drive property as surplus and authorizing the sale of a portion of the land to Lake Transit for the new transit hub.

On Tuesday, Huchingson asked the supervisors to designate her and her staffers as the negotiating team.

Her written report said, “After completing the negotiations process, the Negotiating Team will present the tentative purchase agreement reached for consideration and approval by the Board of Supervisors in the course of a regularly scheduled and open meeting.”

Board Chair Moke Simon congratulated Lake Transit on the grant, calling its efforts “phenomenal work” for the community.

Supervisor Bruno Sabatier asked about the timeline for completing negotiations.

Huchingson said staff was ready to meet with Lake Transit and the title company is poised to handle the transaction once the terms of the sale are determined.

Sabatier moved to approve the negotiating team, which the board approved 5-0.

Lake Transit has reported that it wants to begin the project in the fall.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – California’s snowpack is heading toward the summer with an overall depth that is about a third of the average after a mostly dry winter, state officials said.

The season’s final manual snow survey at Phillips Station was conducted Thursday by the Department of Water Resources.

The survey recorded 1.5 inches of snow depth and a snow water equivalent, or SWE, of 0.5 inches, which is 3 percent of the May average for this location.

The SWE measures the amount of water contained in the snowpack, providing a more accurate forecast of spring runoff than snow depth alone.

Measurements from the 130 electronic snow sensors scattered throughout the state indicate that the statewide snowpack’s water equivalent is 8.4 inches, or 37 percent of the May average.

Thursday’s readings will help hydrologists forecast spring and summer snowmelt runoff into rivers and reservoirs.

“March and April storms brought needed snow to the Sierras, with the snowpack reaching its peak on April 9, however, those gains were not nearly enough to offset a very dry January and February,” said Sean de Guzman, chief of DWR’s Snow Survey and Water Supply Forecast Section. “The last two weeks have seen increased temperatures leading to a rapid reduction of the snowpack. Snowmelt runoff into the reservoirs is forecasted to be below average.”

California’s weather variability has been on full display this water year. Dry conditions in October and November were followed by precipitation in December that measured 120 percent of average.

Very dry conditions returned to much of the state in January and February, with March and April storms leading to the snowpack peaking at just 66 percent of average on April 9.

In normal years, the snowpack supplies about 30 percent of California’s water needs as it melts in the spring and early summer.

The greater the snow water equivalent the greater the likelihood California’s reservoirs will receive ample runoff to meet the state’s water demand in the summer and fall.

The state’s six largest reservoirs currently hold between 83 percent (San Luis) and 126 percent (Melones) of their historical averages for this date. Lake Shasta, California’s largest surface reservoir, is 94 percent of its historical average and sits at 81 percent of capacity.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – While dry, warm conditions are expected to prevail over the coming week, forecasters said there is a chance of rain for Lake County this weekend.

The National Weather Service said high clouds associated with the next weather system are approaching the area from the west, and this will very gradually increase in coverage into early Friday.

The forecast calls for generally dry conditions for the first half of Friday, but a weak weather front could bring very light showers along with increasing cloud cover inland.

From Saturday morning through late Saturday night, the National Weather Service said a “more substantial front” will move across the area. That front is expected to bring light to moderate rainfall of about a few hundredths of an inch in Lake and Mendocino counties, with more rainfall farther north.

The forecast said precipitation will begin to wind down early Sunday morning, with Monday seeing the return of drier conditions.

Temperatures this week will range into the high 70s during the day and mid-40s at night, according to the local forecast.

Winds of up to 11 miles per hour also are forecast through Sunday.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.