Comets
The recent ground-breaking Rosetta mission, where a probe called Philae landed on a comet 500 million miles from Earth, demonstrates the human drive to discover more about comets. Comets are often referred to as ''dusty snowballs'', as they consist of an ice and rock centre (its nucleus) surrounded by a cloud of gas and dust (the coma). Considered leftovers from the formation of our Solar System, the majority of comets inhabit the 'Ooort Cloud', beyond the orbit of Pluto. Occasionally one soars through the Solar System, leaving bright tails in its wake, providing a celestial show to Earth. As a result of this movement, many theories hypothesis that comets may have led to life on Earth.
Meteor shower tonight: How to see dazzling Geminid shooting stars 2024
Look to the sky for one of the best meteor showers of the year.
Fireball meteor shower: How to see the spectacular November Leonids
Known as one of the best meteor shower events, the Leonids are one you won’t want to miss.
Fireball meteor shower tonight: How to see the Northern Taurids November peak
Full of unusually bright meteors, the Taurids offer a spectacular viewing experience.
Orionid meteor shower tonight: How to see spectacular shooting stars
One of the most impressive meteor showers is approaching, here's everything you need to know.
Once-in-a-lifetime comet tonight: How to see the rare celestial event
This weekend is the last time you'll be able to see Comet A3 in this lifetime.
This epic photo shows a comet hurtling past a NASA spacecraft
Images have captured Comet A3 moving through our Solar System, in a once-in-a-lifetime event.
Comet of the century tonight: How to see the stunning celestial event
Burning brighter than expected, you won’t want to miss comet A3.
Everest-sized ‘Devil comet’ tonight: How to see the once-in-a-lifetime 2024 event
The 'unused building block of the Solar System' is hurtling towards the Sun, leaving behind a trail of dust and gas. If you’re lucky, you might just catch a glimpse.
Comet tonight: How to see the March 2024 celestial event
You should be able to spot the comet through a pair of binoculars. Here's everything you need to know about C/2021 S3 PanSTARRS, including how you (yes, you) can help astronomers.
Comets 2024: The 6 brightest to see this year
Comets are unpredictable celestial visitors and there's a lot of uncertainty surrounding forecasted magnitude. However, there are six comets in 2024 that we're keeping a close eye on - here's what we know so far.
Rare ‘lost’ meteor shower storm tonight: How to see the stunning Andromedids 2023
Astronomers are predicting a ‘meteor storm year’ for the enigmatic Andromedids, aka the 'lost shower', with as many as 200 meteors per hour visible on Saturday evening.
Comet Nishimura tonight: How to see the once-in-a-lifetime celestial event
It’s likely our last chance to see this comet, last near Earth in the 17th century.
Perseid meteor shower 2023 guide: All you need to know
The Perseid meteor shower peaks this weekend, and unlike last year, viewing conditions are set to be excellent. It’s one of the best meteor showers of the year: here’s how and when to watch
Here’s how you could see a rare bright comet this January – no telescope required
Comet C/2022 E3 ZTF will visit our skies this month, and it might even be visible to the naked eye.
Meteor, asteroid and comet: What’s the difference?
Know your meteorite from your meteoroid with our handy guide.
Instant Genius Podcast | Meteorites, with Dr Tim Gregory
Cosmochemist Dr Tim Gregory joins us on our podcasts, Instant Genius and Instant Genius Extra.
What does a comet smell like?
Can’t blame this one on the dog…
Did a huge comet impact ignite civilisation on Earth as we know it?
A new analysis suggests society may have started with a bang.
Heavy metals unexpectedly found in comets' atmospheres throughout the Solar System
The presence of iron and nickel vapours in comets' atmospheres reveal a hole in our understanding of early Solar System.
How to see the Lyrid meteor shower 2021 tonight
Where, when, and how to spot the first major meteor shower of this year.
Jupiter flung the dinosaur-killing comet into Earth, new study suggests
Gravitational pulls can cause the Solar System to act like a giant ‘pinball machine’, researchers at Harvard University say.
Building blocks of life can form in interstellar clouds through ‘dark chemistry’
Glycine, an amino acid, can form in interstellar clouds without the heat of a star.
Reality Check | No, an asteroid probably won’t smash into Earth the day before the US elections, and here’s why
What are the chances that we'll be struck by a space rock?
Neowise | An increasingly rare opportunity to spot a comet with the naked eye
Neowise has an orbit of almost 6,800 years, meaning that the last generation of people to see it would have lived during the 5th millennium BC.