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

An illustration of the night sky on Feb. 10 showing the green comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF) close to Mars and the Taurus constellation.

See the green comet near Mars in the night sky this week

By Brett Tingley published

Comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF) will be positioned close to Mars in the Taurus constellation from Feb. 9 through Feb. 14, making it easier to locate as it dims in the night sky.

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.

A photo of comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF) taken by Chris Schur in Payson, Arizona.

Watch the green comet pass the bright star Capella on Sunday (Feb. 5)

By Robert Lea published

It's a meeting of the GOATs this weekend when superstar green comet C/2022 E3 meets up with Capella, the Goat Star. Capella should help skywatchers spot C/2022 E3 as it races away from Earth.

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.

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.

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.

An illustration of the night sky on Feb. 1 showing comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF) at perigee.

Watch a green comet make its first Earth approach in 50,000 years today with this free webcast

By Brett Tingley published

Comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF) is making its closest approach to Earth, and you can watch it pass by without even stepping outside, thanks to a free livestream.

A photograph of comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF) taken by Bob Schiff in Danville, CA.

Green comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF) will be closest to Earth today. Here's how to see it.

By Robert Lea published

C/2022 E3 (ZTF) hasn't been this close to Earth in 50,000 years since the last ice age and prior to the extinction of the Neanderthals.

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?

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.

A photograph of comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF) taken by Miguel Claro.

Comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF) shines bright while closest to the sun in gorgeous photo

By Miguel Claro published

The image shows a close-up view of comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF) during perihelion, when it was at its closest to the sun on Jan. 12, 2023.

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

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

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

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.

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

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

By Brett Tingley published

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

Green comet in a sea of stars

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

By Tariq Malik published

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

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

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

By Robert Lea last updated

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

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

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

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

By Brett Tingley published

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

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.