Comet C2020 F3 NEOWISE is shining brightly in the dawn sky throughout the month of July.
MoreComet SWAN visible
Comet SWAN (C/2020 F8), discovered by Australian amateur astronomer, Michael Mattiazzo using the Solar Wind Anisotropies camera on NASA’s Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO), is now a naken eye object visible from the Southern Hemisphere.
MoreComet ATLAS approaching
Comet C/2019 Y4 ATLAS, discovered in December 2019 by the Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System (ATLAS) in Mauna Loa in Hawaii is approaching the inner solar system. It is currently observed to be disintegrating.
Comet Borisov fragmenting
Interstellar comet 2I/Borisov, discovered in 2019, has been seen breaking apart in March 2020.
Hubble Space Telescope observations indicate that fragments of the comet are drifting away, as reported in the Astronomer’s Telegram on April 2, 2020.
Possible Interstellar Comet Discovered
Comet 2I/Borisov, discovered on August 29, 2019, has astronomers intrigued as it is only the second known object to be have an orbit and velocity that suggests it is of interstellar origin. It’s orbit has an eccentricity of about 3.5. It will reach perihelion on December 7, 2019.
MoreHyperactive comets and terrestial water
New study shows a certain family of comets contain water similar to earth’s water.
MoreComet 46P making close approach
The comet 46P/Wirtanen (46P) is set to make a close approach to Earth this weekend. At its closest, 46P will pass a mere 11.7 million km from our planet.
MoreRosetta completes mission with controlled impact
ESA’s Rosetta mission has concluded with a controlled descent into Comet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko. “The descent gave Rosetta the opportunity to study the comet’s gas, dust and plasma environment very close to its surface, as well as take very high-resolution images… after becoming the first spacecraft to orbit a comet, and the first to deploy a lander, Philae, in November 2014.” More
Rosetta Photos
Rosetta’s OSIRIS camera team has launched a new website to showcase their recent images of Comet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko.
Comet Catalina Viewing Guide
Comet Catalina now visible in pre-dawn skies in December.
Oxygen found in Comet
ESA’s Rosetta spacecraft made the first in situ detection of oxygen molecules outgassing from a comet, an unexpected observation that challenges current Solar System formation models. More
New Horizons makes historic Pluto flyby
After nearly a decade-long journey, NASA’s New Horizons spacecraft has made its flyby of the Pluto and its moons.
Comet Lander Philae Wakes Up
Rosetta’s lander Philae has emerged from hibernation. Comet Lander Philae, which shut down 64 hours after the historic comet landing in November 2014, has sent back signals indicating that it is in good health.
Philae Lander Yields Rich Data
In the 64 hours before the Philae comet lander went into hibernation, it conducted experiments, deployed all 10 instruments, and returned data that is now being analysed. More
Historic Comet Landing Confirmed
ESA’s Rosetta mission has landed its Philae lander on Comet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko, marking the first time in history this has been accomplished. More
One Day to Comet Landing
Rosetta’s Philae probe is set to attempt the historic first landing on a comet on November 12. Watch live at http://rosetta.esa.int/
Comet Siding Spring Mars encounter on October 19
Comet C/2013 A1, also known as comet Siding Spring, will graze the planet Mars on Sunday within about 139,500 km, less than half the earth-moon distance. Spacecraft orbiting around mars are getting prepped for the encounter.
Rosetta arrives at comet
Launched in 2004, the Rosetta spacecraft has finally arrived at comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko. It will be the “first mission in history to rendezvous with a comet, escort it as it orbits the Sun, and deploy a lander to its surface”. Follow the event live at: More
Rosetta spacecraft 5 days from arrival at comet
As the ESA’s Rosetta spacecraft closes to within 1000 km of Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko, the Rosetta science team has released a new image and made the first temperature measurements of the comet’s core.
Rosetta Website – http://sci.esa.int/rosetta/
Comet Spacecraft Rosetta awakens enroute to first comet landing
Rosetta spacecraft wakes from deep space hibernation enroute to comet rendezvous.