Distant comet cracks into two halves after being heated by the sun
24 June 2023
A fragmentation event has given astronomers a new way to study a comet from the outer reaches of the solar system
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Asteroids that speed up unexpectedly may be ‘dark comets’ in disguise
21 March 2023
Some asteroids appear to accelerate in ways that can’t be accounted for by gravity, suggesting they might be firing out invisible jets of gas - like those of comets
Rare green comet C/2022 E3 is about to make its closest pass by Earth
25 January 2023
A comet that last passed by Earth about 50,000 years ago is coming around again and will make its closest pass on 1 February, at which point it may be visible with the naked eye
Exocomets are probably born the same way as comets in our solar system
28 April 2022
Observations of comets orbiting the star Beta Pictoris have revealed their range of sizes, which suggest that they probably form via a series of collisions just like comets that orbit the sun
Interstellar comet Borisov is the most pristine space object ever seen
30 March 2021
The interstellar comet Borisov probably formed in the presence of giant planets, but it has never been disrupted by coming near another star, making it the most pristine object ever spotted
NASA's Parker Solar Probe had a surprise close encounter with a comet
17 December 2020
A spacecraft on a mission to the sun had a surprise encounter with a comet last year – and discovered evidence that it may not be a comet after all
Ancient ice beneath the surface of comet 67P is softer than candyfloss
28 October 2020
When the Philae lander arrived at comet 67P, its harpoons didn't deploy as planned and it bounced across the surface, revealing ice that is softer than the foam on coffee
How to see the spectacular comet Neowise with the naked eye
13 July 2020
Comet Neowise is currently putting on an impressive show for observers in the northern hemisphere, and you should be able to see it without binoculars or a telescope
Longest known comet tail stretched for over a billion kilometres
5 June 2020
NASA's Cassini spacecraft crossed paths with the elongated tail of a comet in 2002, picking up hydrogen ions from over a billion kilometres away
Interstellar comet Borisov came from a cold and distant home star
20 April 2020
The interstellar comet Borisov, which flew past Earth in December, is full of carbon monoxide ice that implies its home star is smaller and colder than our sun
