Comets pass through skies frequently but we don’t get to have a glimpse of them as they are far away. But, when they get closer it makes a great visual.
On December 12, the Comet Leonard will pass closest to earth. It will be after 35,000 years that a comet will approach the earth. With it’s greenish glow it will make a great visual.
This comet is named after the astronomer, Gregory J. Leonard. Interesting thing to note here is that, though it is expected to be close to planet on December 12, it will be visible throughout most of the month.
What are Comets?
NASA defines Comets as frozen leftovers from the formation of the solar system composed of dust, rock and ices. They range from a few miles to tens of miles wide, but as they orbit closer to the sun, they heat up and spew gases and dust into a glowing head that can be larger than a planet. This material forms a tail that stretches millions of miles. There are 3,743 known comets.
Best time to view-
By looking east one or two hours before sunrise Comet Leonard will be visible with a telescope. If you watch it for an hour you’ll notice it moving against the background stars.
