Comets

The massive volcanic comet 12P/Pons-Brooks, which grows giant horns when it erupts, has exploded for a third time in five months as it continues to race toward the sun.

The comet C/2023 H2 (Lemmon) will reach peak brightness on Friday, Nov. 10, illuminating the sky and possibly becoming visible with the naked eye.

The cryovolcanic comet 12P/Pons–Brooks, which will make its closest approach to Earth next year, has re-sprouted its distinctive "horns" after its second major eruption in four months.

A fragmented comet that exploded in Earth's atmosphere initiated the first-ever farming village in Syria, according to new research.

After surviving its closest approach to the sun, Comet Nishimura was buffeted by a possible coronal mass ejection that briefly blew its tail away. The rare event was captured by a NASA spacecraft.

Comet Nishimura has surprised NASA by photobombing its STEREO spacecraft, revealing it seems to have held together after its brush with the sun on Sept. 17.

The exploding comet, known as 12P/Pons–Brooks, is currently approaching its closest point to Earth during its 71-year orbit through the solar system.

Astrophotographer Miguel Claro captured a panoramic view of the Milky Way, a comet and other night sky sights from a dark sky preserve in Portugal. Watch it in virtual reality.

Forty years ago this month, there came a show stopping celestial sight — literally a bolt out of the blue — as a new comet was discovered close to Earth.