Have you seen the summer comet? Comet 10P/Tempel (also called Tempel 2) is making its latest pass through the inner solar system, offering a rare opportunity to observe one of the most unusual features ever seen on a comet. For skywatchers, it’s a chance to witness a stream of debris left behind over centuries of journeys around the sun.
What Is Comet 10P/Tempel 2?
First discovered on July 4, 1873, comet 10P/Tempel 2 is thought to be 6.6 miles (10.6 km) in diameter — about the same size as Halley’s Comet. It completes one orbit of the sun every 5.4 years and is currently visible through binoculars or small telescopes in the constellation Capricornus.
It will reach perihelion — its closest point to the sun — on Aug. 2, before making its closest approach to Earth on Aug. 3, so it will be visible for a number of weeks.
Where And When To See Comet 10P/Tempel 2
According to NASA, Tempel 2 won’t become a bright naked-eye object, but it is within reach of binoculars or a small telescope. The space agency recommends observing from a dark location away from city lights. Look for a faint, fuzzy glow and, under good conditions, a short, broad, fan-shaped tail.
It will in the constellation Capricornus, visible from around 45 to 60 minutes after the sky becomes fully dark. Binoculars or a small telescope will be required. However, the ancient dust trail will require long-exposure astrophotography to capture it.
What Is The Comet’s Dust Trail?
According to Spaceweather.com, Comet 10P/Tempel 2 is now displaying a thin dust trail, giving it the appearance of Saturn with its rings seen edge-on. Veteran astrophotographer Chris Schur, who recently photographed the comet from Arizona, described it as “the most obvious dust trail I have ever seen in 50 years of imaging.”
According to NASA’s Astronomy Picture of the Day, the feature is an ancient ribbon of larger dust particles left behind over many previous orbits. Unlike a comet’s tail, which consists of fresh gas and dust pushed away from the sun, this trail follows the comet’s orbital path.
The timing is no coincidence. As Earth crosses the comet’s orbital plane between July 18 and July 22, the dust trail is viewed almost edge-on, making it appear narrower and brighter than usual before it gradually widens again over the following days.
Wishing you clear skies and wide eyes.