Search results for comets

Astronomy Jan 23, 2026

Halley's Comet wrongly named: 11th-century English monk predates British astronomer

The British astronomer and mathematician Edmond Halley was not, after all, the first to understand the cycle of the comet that now bears his name. This is shown by research conducted by, among others, Professor Simon Portegies ...

Planetary Sciences Jan 2, 2026

The interstellar comet that's spilling its secrets

When 3I/ATLAS swept past the sun in late October 2025, it became only the third confirmed visitor from interstellar space ever detected. Unlike the mysterious 'Oumuamua, which revealed almost nothing about itself during its ...

Astronomy Dec 29, 2025

The Star of Bethlehem might have actually been a comet described in an ancient Chinese text

Many researchers have spent decades attempting to decode biblical descriptions and link them to verifiable historical events. One such description is that of the Star of Bethlehem—a bright astronomical body that was said ...

Astronomy Dec 29, 2025

What was the Christmas star? Astronomy might hold the answer

In the run up to Christmas, carols fill the air. Many have an astronomical twist, singing of the "Christmas Star" from the story of the nativity. Described in the Gospel of Matthew, the star guided the three wise men to the ...

Astronomy Dec 18, 2025

Comet 3I/ATLAS: Europa Clipper captures rare ultraviolet view

The Southwest Research Institute-led Ultraviolet Spectrograph (UVS) aboard NASA's Europa Clipper spacecraft has made valuable observations of the interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS, which in July became the third officially recognized ...

Astronomy Dec 16, 2025

PUNCH mission spacecraft producing unprecedented images of Sun

After less than a year in orbit, the Southwest Research Institute-built PUNCH spacecraft have made major accomplishments, imaging the sun in context while tracking comets and enormous space weather events as they traveled ...

Astronomy Dec 15, 2025

XMM-Newton sees comet 3I/ATLAS in X-ray light

The European Space Agency's X-ray space observatory XMM-Newton observed interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS on 3 December for around 20 hours. During that time, the comet was about 282–285 million km from the spacecraft.

Planetary Sciences Dec 15, 2025

Interstellar comet keeps its distance as it makes its closest approach to Earth

A stray comet from another star swings past Earth this week in one last hurrah before racing back toward interstellar space.

Astronomy Dec 15, 2025

Hubble catches another glimpse of 3I/ATLAS

On July 1st, 2025, the third interstellar object (ISO) ever detected was seen making its way through our solar system. Shortly after being alerted by automated detection systems, astronomers at the European Space Agency (ESA) ...

Planetary Sciences Dec 12, 2025

Comet 3I/ATLAS displays greenish hue in new Gemini North telescope images

Gemini North captured new images of Comet 3I/ATLAS after it reemerged from behind the sun on its path out of the solar system. The data were collected during a Shadow the Scientists session—a unique outreach initiative that ...

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