Solar survivor: Comet defies death in brush with sun

A SMALL comet survived what astronomers thought would be certain death when it danced uncomfortably close to the sun.

Comet Lovejoy, which was only discovered a couple of weeks ago, was supposed to melt when it came close to where temperatures hit several million degrees.

Astronomers had tracked 2,000 other sun-grazing comets making the same suicidal trip. None survived. But astronomers watching live with Nasa telescopes first saw the sun’s corona wiggle as Lovejoy went close to the sun.