comets

Latest about comets

Computer artwork of a meteor burning up in Earth's atmosphere.

How many meteorites hit Earth every year?

By Charles Q. Choi published

Earth is constantly showered by space rocks, but how many of these actually land on Earth's surface?

Meteoroids
This NASA illustration depicts a solitary black hole in space, with its gravity warping the view of stars and galaxies in the background.

The 7 most terrifying things in space

By Jamie Carter published

Here are seven of the most terrifying things in space, including solar flares, black holes and supernovas.

Astronomy
A view of Comet C/2017 K2 PANSTARRS as seen on June 26, 2022.

A giant comet will swoop by Earth tonight. Here's how to watch it live.

By Samantha Mathewson published

One of the farthest active comets ever spotted makes its closest approach to Earth on July 14, 2022 and here's how you can catch the action live.

Comets
These star trails are from the Eta Aquarids meteor shower of 2020, as seen from Cordoba, Argentina, at its peak on May 6.

A 'meteor storm' of 1,000 shooting stars per hour may light up the skies over North America tonight

By Elizabeth Howell published

The Tau Herculids could bring up a meteor storm, but there's a good chance it won't happen at all.

Meteoroids
These star trails are from the Eta Aquarids meteor shower of 2020, as seen from Cordoba, Argentina, at its peak on May 6.

How to watch the Eta Aquarids meteor shower this weekend

By Elizabeth Howell published

The show originates from Halley's Comet and may generate as many as 30 shooting stars an hour.

Meteoroids
Comet Leonard, shown here on Dec. 4, 2021, was the brightest comet to whiz past Earth that year.

RIP Comet Leonard: Brightest comet to whiz past Earth in 2021 is now a blur of dust.

By Stephanie Pappas published

Comet Leonard, the brightest comet to whiz past Earth in 2021, has likely disintegrated.

Comets
Comet 67P_Churyumov-Gerasimenko_European Space Agency

Why are asteroids and comets such weird shapes?

By JoAnna Wendel published

Small bodies like asteroids and comets are shaped more by their geological makeup than by gravity, which molds planets and moons into spheres.

Asteroids
The origin of life might be discovered by looking into our DNA

7 theories on the origin of life

By Charles Q. Choi, Scott Dutfield published

Reference From lightning to space rocks, here are ideas for how the first life on Earth came to be.

Reference
In the 2022 sci-fi movie "Moonfall," the Space Shuttle Endeavor docks at the International Space Station while the moon hurtles toward Earth.

Could the moon ever be pushed from orbit, like in 'Moonfall'?

By Mindy Weisberger published

What would it take to dislodge the moon from its orbit and send it on a collision course with Earth?

The Moon
A view of Comet Leonard as seen over Australia.

Comet Leonard puts on a final, spectacular display with ion tail in solar wind

By Meghan Bartels published

Comet Leonard is falling out of view, but not without putting on one last show.

Comets
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