Although C/2017 K2 is just one of them, it's relatively bright so it is a great comet for scientists to study as it approaches the sun. NASA astronomers predict that it will come closest to Earth on July 13 and be most visible on. "There are a number of these one-off distant interlopers which make their way to the inner solar system, but as they are relatively rare, each one provides a special insight into the conditions which existed billions of years ago when the solar system was first forming," said Gibson.Īlan Fitzsimmons from the Astrophysics Research Centre at Queen's University Belfast told Newsweek: "There are many comets that enter the inner solar system each year. The C/2017 K2 (PanSTARRS) comet, often known as K2, is thought to be between 18 and 100 miles wide. Speculations are that it will get closer to just 1 billion miles. Despite having such speed and width, the chances of hitting Earth are negligible. It is also thought to have a mass of about 500 trillion tons a hundred thousand. Its icy nucleus is bigger than any ever seen measuring around 80 miles across, and 50 times bigger than the heart of most known comets. It is coal dark, to see it, it should be large enough. This comet is estimated to have a nucleus of about 16 miles across twice the size of the Chicxulub impactor, which was the asteroid that killed off the dinosaurs. (Nasa) Nasa has spotted a record-breakingly large comet headed towards Earth. Oort Cloud comets are particularly interesting because their extremely large orbits mean we only get to see each one once every few million years. But Comet Bernardinelli-Bernstein is 50 times larger than a normal comet. Further, the role that comets might have played in transporting water to planets such as Earth remains a very hot topic of scientific research." The comet wont come near us, but will present a rare chance to closely observe an. "It is relatively rare that we can figuratively-and in some cases, literally-pick up this material, examine it and get a unique, clean, insight into what our sun and planets were built from five billion years ago. Enormous Comet Has Entered Our Inner Solar System, Heading Towards Earth. In Kyiv, at the moment when the distance will be the shortest, it will already be 5.09 a.m. NASA Spots Biggest Comet Ever-500 Trillion Ton Ice Ball Headed This Way Comet C/2017 K2 is moving towards the Sun On the night of July 13-14, the closest approach to Earth of comet C/2017 K2 (PANSTARRS) will take place.Man's Incredible Picture of the Andromeda Galaxy Wows Internet-'Stunning' The comet’s journey is the opportunity of a lifetime for scientists anxious to learn about the conditions and building blocks of the solar system that one day led to Earth and all its life.Comet Bigger Than Dinosaur-killing Asteroid to Fly Past Earth.
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