46P/Wirtanen - a photo on Flickriver

46P/Wirtanen

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Say hello to comet 46P/Wirtanen, named after its discoverer in 1948, the astronomer Carl A. Wirtanen. It's swinging by our backyard within a mere within 7.1 million miles (7,199,427 to be more precise). It's what is known as a “hyperactive” comet, meaning it produces more water in its tail than most comets its size. As it approaches our Sun, the ice melts away and it's watery and rocky debris catch sunlight as it does.

It's possible to see this with the naked eye still for a few more days if you go to some dark skies. Look near the constellation Taurus and Orion high up in the Southeastern sky, or just below the Pleiades constellation. I think it's easier to visually find the large cluster of the Pleiades or find Orions 3 star belt. If you hold your fist to the sky and look a couple of fist-lengths to the left of the belt, you will spot Wirtanen.

The comet passes by Earth every 5.4 years. But this weekend might be the best time to view it in a lifetime. It's among the 10 closest cometary approaches since 1950. "This will be the closest comet Wirtanen has come to Earth for centuries and the closest it will come to Earth for centuries,"Paul Chodas, a scientist at NASA’s Center for Near-Earth Object Studies, said in a press statement.

Taken on: December 11, 2018

Tags:

46P

46P/Wirtanen

comet

space

deep

astro

astrophotography

JasonGambone

Jasongambone.com

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Sets appears in: • Astrophotography

Groups appears in: • Night Images • Night Photography more » • After Dark - Night Photography • Astronomy, Stars, Planets and Space • Night shooters • Explore The Night - Night Photography « less

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