Watching comets

The orbit of Comet 3I/ATLAS in the solar system. NASA illustration

Interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS crossed the orbit of Mars this week – a rare window for cosmic research

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NASA and ESA spacecraft are taking advantage of the proximity to Mars to study the comet's chemical composition; perihelion is expected on October 30 and will lead to a peak in activity
The growing tail of 3I/Atlas. (International Gemini Observatory/NOIRLab/NSF/AURA/Shadow the Scientist)

What does the interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS teach us about other solar systems?

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Researchers have revealed photographs of the interstellar visitor taken about two months before the comet was identified as an interstellar visitor and discovered that it was already active at a great distance from the Sun.
Astronomers have identified 3I/ATLAS, a rare interstellar visitor that may hold secrets from the galaxy's distant past. Its unusual speed, size, and possible icy composition make it an enticing target for observations with space telescopes in the near future. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech.

The visitor from outside the solar system is almost as old as the galaxy itself

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An international group of astronomers reported the discovery of the third confirmed interstellar object to enter our solar system on July 3. Now they continue to monitor the approaching comet
Discovered in early July, Comet 3I/ATLAS is only the third interstellar object to pass through the solar system. Scientists are tracking its motion and believe it is a rare opportunity to learn about planetary conditions in distant solar systems. (Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech)

The Solar System as a Crossroads – A Third Comet from Another Solar System Discovered

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Comet 3I/ATLAS, discovered in early July, is only the third interstellar object to pass through the solar system. Scientists are tracking its motion and believe it is a rare opportunity to learn about planetary conditions in distant solar systems.
A comet at night above an observatory with stars and a figure observing.

Don't blink – the stunning Comet Atlas is breaking up before our eyes

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Comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS) in the skies of Israel. Photography: Ilan Shapira

There are only a few days left to watch the Zuchinshan-Atlas comet in the evening sky (streaming recording)

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The comet discovered at the same time by two automatic stargazers and named after both is extremely bright. It will return to Earth's proximity only in 80 thousand years
NASA image showing the comet's predicted path in late January and early February. Credit: NASA

The Green Comet C/2022 E3: How to watch the rare visitor

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Green Comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF) will approach Earth on February 1st and, although pale in the northern sky, will be seen near the carts/bears before sailing into deep space for millions of years if at all
Comet NEOWISE as photographed from the Parker spacecraft, on July 5, 2020, when it reached the closest point in its orbit to the Sun. Photo: NASA

Starting this week, comet NEOWISE can be observed in the evening hours

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An illustration of the appearance of Comet Omoamua based on observations by the European Southern Observatory (ESO)

A new formation theory explains the interstellar object Omoamoa

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Comet Borisov, at its closest point to the Sun, December 2019. Photo: Hubble Space Telescope

The interstellar comet Borisov passed the Sun and accelerated

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comet. Illustration: shutterstock

A newly discovered comet is likely a visitor from outside the solar system

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Comet Hale-Bop has a blue dove tail and a curved dust tail. Astronomy for Beginners, Andy Roberts, CC BY

In the coming days there is a chance that we will be able to see a comet without a telescope

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comet. Illustration: shutterstock

My life as a comet hunter

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Caroline Herschel. From Wikipedia

Caroline Herschel acquired an education despite her mother's opposition, helped her brother William and recorded astronomical discoveries herself

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These images taken by the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) are of the nucleus of Comet C/2013 A1 or Siding Spring during the comet's transit near Mars on October 19, 2014. Comet Siding Spring is on its first trip near the Sun and came from the Oort Cloud at the outer edge of the system the sun The image composed of two versions of two of the best photographs of the comet by HiRISE, in the upper part the images from dynamic range, show the nucleus and the bright halo near the nucleus. At the bottom of the image you see two clarified versions of the outer halo, in which the inner area is saturated. The pictures on the left and right were taken nine minutes apart. Photo: NASA/JPL-Caltech/University of Arizona

The nucleus of the Siding Spring comet that passed by Mars is smaller than expected

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Comet Siding Spring in the sky of Mars. A raw (night) image taken by NASA's Curiosity robotic vehicle on the surface of Mars. From a NASA tweet about an hour after the comet's approach to Mars, 19/10/2014

The first raw image of Comet Siding Spring from Mars

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Illustration of the passage of the Siding Spring comet near Mars. Source: NASA

A ball of light in the sky of Mars

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Comet Jacques and the Agalon Group Nebula IC 405, also known as the Burning Star Nebula, aligned and formed a temporary question mark in the sky on the morning of July 26. Photo: Rolando Lagostri

Comet Jacques created a question mark in the sky

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The remains of Comet Ison, as photographed by the Soho spacecraft of NASA and the European Space Agency the day after perihelion.

Astronomers: There is still hope that some fragments from the nucleus of Comet Ison survived the passage

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Comet Ison approaches the Sun, November 28, 2013. Photo: NASA/European Space Agency

Comet Ison disintegrated as it approached the Sun * Experts: It disintegrated from the inside in the hours preceding its passage by the Sun

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Tag of an airborne mission to track the Dragonids in 2011

A ton of material was added to the Earth in one meteorite meter

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Guessing where to locate the PanSTARRS comet on March 12, 2013 after sunset. Illustration: David Atkinson, Universe Today

Comet Fanstars continues to move north, today may be visible from Israel for a short time after sunset with the naked eye

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Photo: The path of the comet in the western sky about an hour after sunset at latitudes 30 north in the week between the 8th and the 16th of March (also relevant to Israel).

A guide to watching Comet Fanstars in March 2013

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Artist's impression of the Oort cloud and the Kuiper belt. Image: NASA

A comet that will pass next month may be visible to the naked eye

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An image created using Starry Night software shows what Comet ISON will look like in the evening sky after sunset on November 29, 2013 from the UK

The bright comet Ison may provide a celestial display in about a year - if it does not disintegrate near the sun

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Comet Hartley as imaged in 2011 by the Epoxy/Deep Impact spacecraft

Comet Hartley 2 - additional findings

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Comet Alanin disintegrates, as photographed by its discoverer Leonid Alanin on October 6, 2011. Courtesy UNIVERSE TODAY

The end of the world has not come again: Comet Alanin passed at a distance of 35 million km from the Earth

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This sharpened image, taken on November 4, 2010 as the Epoxy spacecraft approached Comet Hartley 2, reveals a cloud of ice particles surrounding the comet's active nucleus.

Snow on Comet Hartley 2

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Comet Hartley 2 as seen from Earth through telescopes on October 13, 2010

Prospects for meteorites following the passage of Comet Hartley 2

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Comet Hartley 2, as imaged in infrared by the WISE space telescope, May 2010. Photo: NASA

Comet Hartley 2 was photographed, which will be reached in November by the Epoxy spacecraft (formerly Deep Impact)

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Comet Maknut R1. From Wikipedia

The new comet from Knut may be visible to the naked eye

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Cosmic scene with DNA, stars, solvents and atomic circles in oral flow.

At dawn Lulin will be at his best - he will look his best in binoculars

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Cosmic scene with DNA, stars, solvents and atomic circles in oral flow.

A green comet is approaching Earth

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Cosmic scene with DNA, stars, solvents and atomic circles in oral flow.

Is the source of life in space?

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Cosmic scene with DNA, stars, solvents and atomic circles in oral flow.

This week, a meter with the brightest meteors for all of 2008

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Cosmic scene with DNA, stars, solvents and atomic circles in oral flow.

Comet McNutt, which may also become the brightest in the last century, will reach its peak proximity to the sun today, Friday

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Cosmic scene with DNA, stars, solvents and atomic circles in oral flow.

A green comet in the sky - visible in binoculars and telescopes only

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Cosmic scene with DNA, stars, solvents and atomic circles in oral flow.

How we found it - about comets. Isaac Asimov.

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Cosmic scene with DNA, stars, solvents and atomic circles in oral flow.

A meteor shower and an approaching comet: two astronomical events in the coming days

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Cosmic scene with DNA, stars, solvents and atomic circles in oral flow.

The comet Linar will pass close to Earth in the coming days.

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Cosmic scene with DNA, stars, solvents and atomic circles in oral flow.

Heavenly passerby

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