Comets

Latest about Comets

Graphic illustration of the Oort cloud shows a Voyager probe on the right of the image surrounded by small rocky pieces of debris.

Oort cloud: What is it and where is it located?

By Vicky Stein last updated

Reference The Oort cloud is a shell of icy bodies that surrounds the solar system. Many comets that frequent our inner solar system originate from this distant region.

Reference
Comet ISON seen making a close approach to the sun in 2013. A newly discovered comet, C/2023 A3, will appear far brighter in the sky if it survives the sun's rays in fall 2024.

Bright new comet discovered zooming toward the sun could outshine the stars next year

By Stephanie Pappas published

The newly discovered comet C/2023 A3 is making a close approach around the sun for the first time in 80,000 years, and might be as bright as a star in fall 2024.

Comets
A greenish comet streaks through the night sky.

Comet C/2022 A2 (Pan-STARRS) passes close by the sun this weekend

By Stefanie Waldek published

The comet C/2022 A2 (Pan-STARRS) will reach perihelion, or the closest point to the sun in its orbit, on Saturday, Feb. 18. The comet will be visible from Earth at dawn and dusk.

Comets
A long-exposure photograph of comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF) taken from Jackson, Wisconsin on Feb. 5, 2023.

Green comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF) may be heading out of the solar system for good

By Robert Lea published

Green comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF) has been predicted to have a period of 50,000 years, but there’s a chance it’s racing out of the solar system.

Comets
An image of 96P Machholz as it heads toward the sun shows fragments of the comet leading ahead of it.

Massive comet hurtling past the sun is chasing its tail

By Robert Lea published

The massive comet 96P Machholz is currently headed through the inner solar system, and a closer look at this unusual 4-mile-wide space snowball reveals that it's chasing its own tail.

Comets
British astrophotographer Josh Dury took this image of comet C/2022 E3 above Stonehenge.

Rare green comet's close approach a once-in-50,000 years feast for astrophotographers (photos)

By Tereza Pultarova published

A rare green comet that hasn't been seen since the time of the Neaderthals made its closest approach to Earth on Feb. 1, and astrophotographers all over the world couldn't peel their eyes off it.

Comets
Machholz 1 as imaged by NASA's Galaxy Evolution Explorer (GALEX) spacecraft.

Gigantic 'alien' comet spotted heading straight for the sun

By Ben Turner published

Scientists think it may have come from another solar system.

Comets
An image of comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF) taken by Miguel Claro in Portugal.

Green comet flaunts its tail in dazzling deep space photo

By Miguel Claro published

A new image from astrophotographer Miguel Claro shows a close-up view of Comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF) on Jan. 22, 2023 immersed in a colorful starfield.

Comets
An image of Comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF) as seen over Italy on Jan. 24, 2023.

The Comet Interceptor probe could visit a stunning object like the green C/2022 E3 (ZTF)

By Meghan Bartels published

Comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF) is tantalizing to spot through a telescope, but what would it look like up close?

Comets
Comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF) with a short third tail (to the left of the comet) and longer gas and dust tails (to the right of the comet) on Jan. 21.

Optical illusion gives rare green comet an 'anti-tail' that seemingly defies physics

By Harry Baker published

C/2022 E3 (ZTF), a comet that has recently made headlines as it flies closer to Earth, briefly developed an ethereal third tail thanks to a weird optical illusion.

Comets
123456789Archives