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Comets

Comets are remnants from the early days of the solar system, billions of years ago. Primarily made of ice and dust, these "dirty snowballs" orbit the sun and in habit the Oort cloud, an area in the outskirts of the solar system beyond Pluto. As comets approach the inner solar system, solar wind from the sun can sweep dust back into a long tail. When these comets are close enough to Earth, they can appear as dazzling objects in the night sky. Space probes from Earth have visited several comets to learn more about their composition. Learn more about comets, icy wanderers in the solar system.

Related Topics: Asteroids, Meteors, Shooting Stars and Fireballs, Rosetta Spacecraft, Stargazer Photos 

Latest Updates

Leonardo DiCaprio (left) and Jennifer Lawrence portray ignored astronomers in Netflix's "Don't Look Up," a comet impact movie that doubles as a climate change warning.

Climate scientist and Netflix 'Don't Look Up' director talk comet metaphors and global warming (exclusive)

By Elizabeth Howell published

Adam McKay, creator of Netflix's popular satire-comedy movie "Don't Look Up," and climate scientist Kate Marvel talk why the world needs more films like the comet metaphor movie.

An image of Halley's Comet taken in 1986.

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.

A view of Comet Leonard as seen over Australia.

Comet Leonard puts on a final, spectacular display with ion tail in solar wind

By Meghan Bartels published

Comet Leonard is slipping out of view, but not without putting on one last show.

The newfound comet C/2021 A1 (Leonard) will reach perihelion, its closest point to the sun, on Jan. 3, 2022.

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.

An image of Comet ISON shows a greenish tinge to the head, but not the tail.

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.

Jennifer Lawrence as astronomy grad student Kate Dibiasky and Leonardo DiCaprio as astronomy professor Randall Mindy in director Adam McKay's new satirical film "Don't Look Up."

How a real NASA patch anchors Netflix's 'Don't Look Up' in reality

By Robert Z. Pearlman published

"You've got the patch there. In fact, I was observing a little Latin phrase at the bottom, what does that say?" "'Hic Servare Diem,' which means 'Here to save the day.'"

Comet Leonard visible in an image captured by a small Chinese satellite on a backdrop of polar lights.

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.

NASA's STEREO-A satellite captured this view of Comet Leonard on Dec. 14, 2021.

'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.

Astrophotographer Chris Schur captures this stunning photo of Comet Leonard on Dec. 4, 2021 from Payson, Arizona using a 10-inch Newtonian telescope and 60-minute camera exposure.

Comet Leonard may have spawned meteor shower on Venus

By Elizabeth Howell published

Comet Leonard may be sparking meteor showers at Venus this weekend during a relatively close approach of the comet to the planet.

A diagram showing the positions of Venus and Comet Leonard in the sky around 5:30 p.m. local time from New York City on Dec. 18, 2021.

Comet Leonard's discoverer shares tips to spot it in the night sky now (before it's gone for good)

By Samantha Mathewson published

The discoverer of Comet Leonard has shared a few tips to help see the bright object in the night sky this month.

Astrophotographer Chris Schur captured this stunning photo of Comet Leonard on Dec. 4, 2021 from Payson, Arizona using a 10-inch Newtonian telescope and 60-minute camera exposure.

Brightening Comet Leonard may be visible without a telescope. Look near Venus.

By Joe Rao published

Skywatchers will have a chance to see Comet Leonard — the brightest comet of 2021 — near Venus in the evening sky tonight (Dec. 17).

A diagram showing the locations of Venus and Comet Leonard at 5:30 p.m. local time from New York City on Dec. 17, 2021.

See the bright Comet Leonard near Venus in the night sky tonight!

By Samantha Mathewson published

Skywatchers will have a chance to see Comet Leonard — the brightest comet of 2021 — near Venus in the evening sky tonight (Dec. 17).

Astrophotographer Chris Schur captures this stunning photo of Comet Leonard on Dec. 4, 2021 from Payson, Arizona using a 10-inch Newtonian telescope and 60-minute camera exposure.

Comet Leonard is at its closest to Earth right now. Here's how to spot it.

By Tariq Malik published

Comet Leonard, the brightest comet of the year, made its closest approach to Earth today (Dec. 12) and should be visible through binoculars and telescopes, weather permitting.

don't look up"Don't Look Up", starring Jennifer Lawrence (left) and Leonardo DiCaprio, portrays a fictional comet threat to Earth.

Leonardo DiCaprio: How comet-themed 'Don't Look Up' shows climate crisis as an emergency

By Elizabeth Howell published

The star-studded cast spoke about Netflix's film, which debuts Dec. 10 in a select theater run.

Leonardo DiCaprio Don't Look Up

'Don't Look Up' delivers a punch in comet-themed climate change film satire (review)

By Elizabeth Howell published

Science is perfectly at the forefront of this star-studded story, but will the jokes connect with a wide audience?

Comet Leonard shines bright in this image from the European Space Agency's Near-Earth Object Coordination Centre using the Calar Alto Schmidt telescope in Spain. It was created by stacking 90 5-second exposure images of the comet taken on Dec. 7, 2021 on top of each other.

Comet Leonard, the brightest of the year, is fading and acting strange

By Meghan Bartels published

Something strange is happening to skywatchers' most anticipated comet of the year.

Stargazer Steven Bellavia captures this image of Comet Leonard and Leonid meteor on Nov. 13, 2021 from Mattituck, New York.

You can see the bright Comet Leonard in a free live webcast tonight

By Elizabeth Howell published

A live webcast will track a newly found bright Comet Leonard star cluster in the Earth's sky and you can watch it live.

Stargazer Steven Bellavia captures this image of Comet Leonard and Leonid meteor on Nov. 13, 2021 from Mattituck, New York.

Want to see Comet Leonard? Here are telescope and binoculars recommendations to spot it this month.

By Elizabeth Howell published

Comet Leonard is visible in binoculars and telescopes. Here are our recommendations on telescopes and binoculars to see the comet.

Stargazer Steven Bellavia captures this image of Comet Leonard and Leonid meteor on Nov. 13, 2021 from Mattituck, New York.

Comet Leonard will light up the sky this month — here's how to see it

By Joe Rao published

It's unusual to see a comet at its best: Most comets are brightest nearest the sun, just when they're most difficult to spot against the sun's glare or hidden below the horizon.

An artist's depiction of Comet Bernardinelli-Bernstein.

Giant comet was active way farther from the sun than expected, scientists confirm

By Samantha Mathewson published

One of the largest comets ever discovered was active long before scientists had expected, according to NASA's industrious planet-hunting telescope.