• Comet Nishimura’s tail ripped off by a CME

    On September 2, 2023, a coronal mass ejection (CME) launched by our sun hit Comet Nishimura (C/2023 P1), causing a disconnection event and stripping its tail. This encounter occurred while the comet was located about halfway between the orbits of Mercury and Venus.

  • Cryovolcanic eruption on comet 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann

    Cryovolcanic comet 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann suddenly brightened by more than 4 magnitudes on November 22, 2022, signaling a new significant eruption/outburst was underway. After the eruption, cryomagmatic debris started expanding in a shell shaped like Pac-Man.

  • Comet 2017 K2 ‘The Record-Breaker’ makes its closest approach to Earth on July 14, 2022

    Comet 2017 K2 (PanSTARRS) – dubbed ‘The Record-Breaker’ – will make its close approach to Earth on July 14, 2022, and then reach perihelion (the closest point to the Sun) on December 19, close to the orbit of Mars. The comet is record-breaking because it was already becoming active when it was discovered in 2017 under the feeble glow of the distant Sun.

  • Large asteroid 1994 PC1 to fly past Earth at 5.5 LD on January 18

    A large near-Earth asteroid designated 1994 PC1 will fly past Earth at a distance of 5.5 LD / 0.01325 AU (1.98 million km / 1.23 million miles) on January 18, 2022. This is the second-closest approach of this object to Earth since 1933. 1994 PC1 is an Apollo-class…

  • Bright North Taurid fireball over the Mediterranean Sea

    This bright North Taurid fireball overflew the Mediterranean Sea at 22:52 UTC on November 7, 2021. It was produced by a fragment from Comet Encke that hit the atmosphere at about 111 000 km/h (68 970 mph). The fireball began at an altitude of about 101 km (62 mph)…