Comets
Latest about Comets
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Bright fireball over Madrid traced back to comet of origin
By Robert Lea published
A meteor that erupted in a fireball at the end of July has been traced back to the debris of a comet that formed 4.6 billion years ago.
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Goodbye, Comet K2! Next stop: closest approach to the sun
By Elizabeth Howell published
Mysterious comet K2 made its closest approach to Earth yesterday and is continuing its journey toward the sun.
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The massive, strange Comet K2 is touring the solar system, surprising scientists as it goes
By Tereza Pultarova published
K2, the most pristine comet ever observed, makes a visit to Earth this week. Here is what scientists have learned about it since its surprising discovery.
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Why is Comet K2 so hard to see given its huge size?
By Elizabeth Howell published
As a huge comet makes its closest approach to Earth on July 13, you might be curious why it's so hard to spot.
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Megacomet K2 caught on camera cruising through celestial equator
By Elizabeth Howell published
A megacomet glows in the dark in this long-exposure image captured by an astrophotographer on June 18, before its closest approach to Earth.
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Australia just flew its own 'vomit comet.' It's a big deal for zero-gravity space research
By Gail Iles published
As Australia's space program begins to take off, parabolic flights like these will be in high demand.
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Fragments of a dying comet might put on a spectacular show — or pass by without a trace
By Jonti Horner, Tanya Hill last updated
Occasionally, Earth runs through a particularly narrow, dense clump of debris, resulting in a meteor storm.
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Debris from the most spectacular comet outburst ever could thrill skywatchers in August
By Tereza Pultarova published
Dust particles produced by the largest comet outburst ever detected will be visible even to amateur ground-based telescopes this summer, a study found.
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