Comets
Latest about Comets
European sun probe flew through the tail of Comet Leonard
By Meghan Bartels last updated
As Comet Leonard bid farewell to Earth and flew past Venus, a sun-studying spacecraft flew through the comet's long tail, giving humans a new perspective on the icy wanderer.
Halley's Comet: Facts about history's most famous comet
By Elizabeth Howell published
The comet's frequent recurrence has played a part in historical events for millennia.
Comet Leonard puts on a final, spectacular display with ion tail in solar wind
By Meghan Bartels last updated
Comet Leonard is slipping out of view, but not without putting on one last show.
Comet Leonard makes its closest approach to the sun today, one year after its discovery
By Elizabeth Howell published
Comet Leonard shines brightly in images captured by a small Chinese satellite on the backdrop of aurora and passing meteors.
Comets' heads may be green, but never their tails, study finds
By Samantha Mathewson published
Comets heat up very quickly as they approach the sun, causing the icy bodies to glow green, but never in the tails trailing behind them. A new study may finally reveal why.
Comet Leonard shines amid aurora and meteor shower in stunning footage by Chinese spacecraft
By Andrew Jones published
Comet Leonard shines brightly in images captured by a small Chinese satellite on the backdrop of aurora and passing meteors.
Comet Leonard's discoverer explains how the unusual object was found
By Samantha Mathewson published
Discovered nearly a year ago, Comet Leonard is on its final tour of Earth's neighborhood, lighting up the night sky for viewers this holiday season.
'Outbursts' from Comet Leonard spotted by NASA satellite (video)
By Rahul Rao published
NASA's STEREO-A satellite caught this view of Comet Leonard as it continued to streak into the inner solar system in December.
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