Tag: Comets

All about comets, meteorites, and asteroids

So what really are the differences between a comet, a meteorite, and an asteroid? What is a comet? A comet is a collection of gas and dust that is frozen together in deep space. These objects spend most of their lives in clouds with other comets. However, sometimes a stray comet gets pulled into a closer orbit around the sun. When that happens, something spectacular happens! The comet starts to melt, shooting off two enormous tails: one made of dust, the other, gas. Most of the time […]

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Comet Neowise is visible this week!

Comet Neowise is now visible both just after sunset and in the morning! This is a rare “naked eye comet” meaning that one can see the comet without any telescopes or binoculars. Although it will be harder to spot this comet in the evening, it is worth a shot! Just after sunset, look to the northwest. The lower the horizon, the easier it will be! Once you are looking northwest, look for a streak in the sky. See the chart below to find out exactly where Neowise […]

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