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Comets

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Comet Wierzchos Nears Earth on Feb. 17 — A Tough Telescopic Look
space9 days ago

Comet Wierzchos Nears Earth on Feb. 17 — A Tough Telescopic Look

Comet C/2024 E1 (Wierzchos) will pass about 94 million miles (151 million km) from Earth on February 17, its closest approach yet; at magnitude around +8.2 it won’t be visible to the naked eye, but may be spotted with binoculars under dark skies. For U.S. viewers, it will sit low in the southwestern sky at sunset in the southern Grus constellation before fading as it moves away from the Sun. The comet brightened after its January 20 perihelion near the Sun, but is expected to dim over the coming weeks as it recedes farther from Earth.

via Space|
#astronomy#comets#perigee
City-Sized Green Comet Eyes Interstellar Exit
space11 days ago

City-Sized Green Comet Eyes Interstellar Exit

Comet C/2024 E1 (Wierzchoś) is brightening as it nears its closest approach to Earth and is on a hyperbolic trajectory that will likely eject it from the solar system, making it another interstellar visitor like 3I/ATLAS. JWST detected significant CO2 in its coma and initial estimates put the nucleus around 13.7 km, thoughSize estimates vary. It passed perihelion earlier in January and will be about 151 million km from Earth on Feb. 17; the emerald iceball will not be naked-eye visible but can be observed with a telescope. Once sent on its interstellar journey, it will drift through the Milky Way for millions to billions of years.

via Live Science|
#3iatlas#c2024-e1#comets
New Sungrazing Comet Could Glow in Daylight if It Survives Its Close Sun Pass
space16 days ago

New Sungrazing Comet Could Glow in Daylight if It Survives Its Close Sun Pass

Discovered C/2026 A1 (MAPS) is a Kreutz sungrazing comet that will swing within about 0.5 million miles of the Sun at perihelion on April 4; if it survives the solar blast, it could become bright enough to be seen with the naked eye—even in daylight—if it survives the solar encounter; observers in the Southern Hemisphere are best placed to view, while those in the north may see it low on the western horizon at sunset; most sungrazers disintegrate near perihelion, so brightness is uncertain, and even if it breaks up it could remain visible with a telescope in late March; another potential bright comet, C/2025 PanSTARRS, may follow later in April.

via Live Science|
#comets#daylight-visibility#kreutz-sungrazer
Comet MAPS: A Potential Naked-Eye Visitor for Spring
space20 days ago

Comet MAPS: A Potential Naked-Eye Visitor for Spring

Astronomers are buzzing about Comet C/2026 A1 (MAPS), a Kreutz sungrazer discovered in Chile that could become a bright naked-eye comet if it survives its extreme Sun approach at perihelion in early April. Its current magnitude is faint, and experts split on whether it will survive and brighten; by early March we should have a clearer forecast. If MAPS performs, it could grace the western evening sky in mid-April after sunset, but many Kreutz comets disintegrate near perihelion. The MAPS name honors the team that developed its discovery program.

via Space|
#astronomy#comets#kreutz-sungrazers
2025: A Year of Spectacular Space Discoveries and Images
science2 months ago

2025: A Year of Spectacular Space Discoveries and Images

2025 was notable for the appearance of three significant comets, including the interstellar 3I/ATLAS, which was the third interstellar object observed in our solar system, along with Comet Lemmon and Comet SWAN, each providing spectacular sights and scientific insights, despite some breaking apart or fading after their close approaches to the sun.

via Space|
#2025#astronomy#comets
2025's Most Stunning Space Moments and Discoveries
science2 months ago

2025's Most Stunning Space Moments and Discoveries

2025 was a spectacular year for skywatchers, featuring notable events such as a rare occultation of Mars by the Wolf Moon, the appearance of a 'great comet' (C/2024 G3 Atlas), the successful landing of Firefly's Blue Ghost on the moon, stunning auroras and vapor tracers, and the discovery of an interstellar comet (3I/ATLAS). These events, along with lunar eclipses and meteor showers, provided breathtaking celestial displays throughout the year.

via Space|
#auroras#comets#lunar-eclipse
Organic Molecules and Life's Building Blocks Found in Deep Space
science4 months ago

Organic Molecules and Life's Building Blocks Found in Deep Space

Astronomers have found widespread organic molecules in space, including in comets, asteroids, and interstellar dust, suggesting that the ingredients for life were present in the early solar system and could have been delivered to Earth, influencing the emergence of life. This discovery highlights the deep space origins of life's building blocks but does not prove life began there.

via Earth.com|
#asteroids#comets#organic-molecules
Last Chance to View Rare Green Comets Before 1,150 Years
science4 months ago

Last Chance to View Rare Green Comets Before 1,150 Years

The green comets Lemmon and SWAN are visible in the northern hemisphere's evening sky on October 24, with the best viewing conditions occurring about 90 minutes after sunset before moonlight dims the view. Lemmon is in Boötes near Arcturus, and SWAN is in Sagittarius near the Summer Triangle, offering a rare opportunity to see these long-period comets before they recede from Earth.

via Forbes|
#comet-lemmon#comet-swan#comets