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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.

Latest Updates

A photo of comet C/2022 E3 ZTF taken on Dec. 26, 2022 in Payson, Arizona by Chris Schur.

How to see the green comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF) visible in the night sky now as it approaches Earth

By Brett Tingley published 23 January 23

Look in the northern skies during the early morning hours and green comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF) may be visible to the naked eye.

Austrian astrophotographer Michael Jäger captured this image of Comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF) showing a disconnection in its tail.

Brilliant green comet loses part of its tail to solar storm in this stunning astrophotographer photo

By Tereza Pultarova published 19 January 23

An image taken by an Austrian comet hunter reveals a disconnection in Comet's C/2022 E3 (ZTF) tail that may have been caused by turbulent space weather.

The image captures the movement of Comet C/2022 E3 ZTF over 3 days (Dec. 27, 28, and 29 2022) in the night sky.

See '3 days in the life' of gorgeous green comet as it heads towards Earth (photo)

By Brett Tingley published 19 January 23

A photo taken by Soumyadeep Mukherjee of Kolkata, India depicts what the photographer calls "Three Days in the Life of a Comet," spanning from Dec. 27 to 29, 2022.

Bright green comet a rare 'messenger from the outer reaches of our solar system,' astronomers say

By Brett Tingley published 13 January 23

Astronomers involved with the discovery of comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF) are just as excited about its discovery as the public is.

A dazzling green comet not seen since the Stone Age has stargazers thrilled in these amazing photos

By Tariq Malik published 13 January 23

The brilliant green comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF) has captivated astrophotographers and may even become visible to the unaided eye soon.

Rare green comet makes closest approach to the sun. How to watch it live tonight (Jan. 12).

By Robert Lea last updated 12 January 23

Comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF), which could be visible with the naked eye, will pass the sun on Thursday (Jan. 12) before approaching the Earth for the first time since the last ice age.

Comet C/2022 E3 ZTF photographed on Nov. 26, 2022 from Yellow Springs, Ohio.

Amazing photos of gorgeously green Comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF)

By Brett Tingley published 8 January 23

Comet C/2022 E3 ZTF is already putting on a show as it makes its way through our solar system.

What time will newfound comet be closest to the sun next week?

By Brett Tingley published 7 January 23

Comet C/2022 E3 ZTF, just discovered in March 2022, will be making its closest approaches to both Earth and the sun in the coming weeks.

Comet C/2022 E3 ZTF photographed from Rome, Italy on Sept. 12, 2022.

Watch a comet make its closest approach in 50,000 years online next week

By Brett Tingley published 6 January 23

To share a view of comet C/2022 E3 ZTF at perihelion with anyone interested, the Virtual Telescope Project is hosting a free livestream starting at 11:00 p.m. EST (0400 GMT) on Jan. 12.

A comet not seen in 50,000 years is coming. Here's what you need to know

By Joe Rao published 6 January 23

On Feb. 1, comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF) will pass to within 28 million miles (42 million km) of our planet, its first visit in 50,000 years.

An image of the Comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF) taken by astrophotographer Hisayoshi Sato as seen in a still image from a NASA video.

Possible naked-eye comet will visit Earth for 1st time since Neanderthals in 2023

By Robert Lea published 2 January 23

The comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF) could be bright enough to be spotted with the naked eye as it passes the sun and Earth at the end of the first month of 2023.

An artist's impression of a comet flying through space trailed by twin streams of gas and dust.

Massive eruption from icy volcanic comet detected in solar system

By Harry Baker published 5 December 22

Astronomers observed a major eruption from a volcanic comet flying through the solar system, likely spewing more than 1 million tons of debris into space.

The top space stories of the week!

By Doris Elin Urrutia last updated 14 January 23

These are some of this week's top stories.

A map of the universe created by the WISE/NEOWISE mission.

Stunning time-lapse video reveals a decade in the life of the universe

By Tereza Pultarova published 20 October 22

NASA's WISE mission has a dramatic view of the universe based on more than a decade of research, gazing into the deep sky with infrared vision.

Interstellar object 'Oumuamua still puzzling scientists 5 years after discovery

By Keith Cooper published 19 October 22

Five years after spotting 'Oumuamua, the first known object from beyond our solar system passing through, scientists are still figuring out what the strange object says about planetary systems.

This sky map shows the Draconid meteor shower's radiant, or the point from which the meteors seem to originate.

Draconid meteor shower peaks this weekend under Hunter's Moon

By Brett Tingley last updated 10 October 22

The peak of the Draconid meteor shower, which appears to originate from the constellation Draco, will sadly be outshined by the full Hunter's Moon.

An animation of the Camelopardalid meteor shower originating from the Camelopardalis, or giraffe, constellation.

See the mysterious October Camelopardalid meteor shower peak tonight (Oct. 6)

By Brett Tingley last updated 6 October 22

The October Camelopardalids are somewhat mysterious in that astronomers aren't quite sure what their origin is.

artist's depiction of rock with starry background

Help find weird comet-like asteroids that could reveal solar system secrets

By Paul Sutter published 20 September 22

Astronomers know of only a few dozen examples of these active asteroids, but they suspect more are out there — and you can join the hunt.

Stunning image of Comet Leonard breakup wins top astronomy photography prize of 2022

By Elizabeth Howell last updated 13 October 22

A 'disconnection event' in the bright Comet Leonard caught the eyes of judges at Royal Observatory Greenwich.

Bill Nye, The Science Guy says we can fight natural disasters in new show

By Elizabeth Howell published 1 September 22

'The End Is Nye' shows The Science Guy coming back from disasters to save the world (again). It is streaming on Peacock now.

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