By — Marcia Dunn, Associated Press Marcia Dunn, Associated Press Leave a comment 0comments Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/science/newly-discovered-comet-is-lighting-up-earths-sky Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Newly discovered comet is lighting up Earth’s sky Science Jul 10, 2020 1:30 PM EDT CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — A newly discovered comet is streaking past Earth, providing a stunning nighttime show after buzzing the sun and expanding its tail. Comet Neowise swept within Mercury’s orbit a week ago. Its close proximity to the sun caused dust and gas to burn off its surface and create an even bigger debris tail. Now the comet is headed our way, with closest approach in two weeks. NASA’s Neowise infrared space telescope discovered the comet in March. Scientists involved in the mission said the comet is about 3 miles (5 kilometers) across. Its nucleus is covered with sooty material dating back to the origin of our solar system 4.6 billion years ago. The Comet C/2020 F3, known as “Neowise”, is seen in the sky over Montlucon, France July 8, 2020, in this screengrab taken from a social media video. Picture taken July 8, 2020. Firmin Boyon/via REUTERS. The comet will be visible around the world until mid-August, when it heads back toward the outer solar system. While it’s visible with the naked eye in dark skies with little or no light pollution, binoculars are needed to see the long tail, according to NASA. Astronauts aboard the International Space Station have already caught a glimpse. NASA’s Bob Behnken shared a spectacular photo of the comet on social media late Thursday, showing central Asia in the background and the space station in the foreground. “Stars, cities, spaceships, and a comet!” he tweeted from orbit. By — Marcia Dunn, Associated Press Marcia Dunn, Associated Press
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — A newly discovered comet is streaking past Earth, providing a stunning nighttime show after buzzing the sun and expanding its tail. Comet Neowise swept within Mercury’s orbit a week ago. Its close proximity to the sun caused dust and gas to burn off its surface and create an even bigger debris tail. Now the comet is headed our way, with closest approach in two weeks. NASA’s Neowise infrared space telescope discovered the comet in March. Scientists involved in the mission said the comet is about 3 miles (5 kilometers) across. Its nucleus is covered with sooty material dating back to the origin of our solar system 4.6 billion years ago. The Comet C/2020 F3, known as “Neowise”, is seen in the sky over Montlucon, France July 8, 2020, in this screengrab taken from a social media video. Picture taken July 8, 2020. Firmin Boyon/via REUTERS. The comet will be visible around the world until mid-August, when it heads back toward the outer solar system. While it’s visible with the naked eye in dark skies with little or no light pollution, binoculars are needed to see the long tail, according to NASA. Astronauts aboard the International Space Station have already caught a glimpse. NASA’s Bob Behnken shared a spectacular photo of the comet on social media late Thursday, showing central Asia in the background and the space station in the foreground. “Stars, cities, spaceships, and a comet!” he tweeted from orbit.