Comet PANSTARRS won’t pass by Earth until this spring, but it’s already showing some unusual properties. Researchers have observed a bright halo of material surrounding the comet, a signal that it’s actively producing dust. This is great news for backyard astronomers, since dust and ice are what contribute to comets’ beautiful, long tails! 

When we think of lemons, our thoughts might turn towards a frosty cold summer drink or a frothy, tasty pie. However, in this case the Lemmon is a public outreach observatory and the treat is a newly discovered comet. At the Mt. Lemmon SkyCenter, Alex Gibbs of the Mount Lemmon Survey discovered a moving target on March 23, 2012.

Right now, within the orbit of Mars and about 113 million miles away from the Sun, an icy traveler from the Oort Cloud is headed our way.

With a nucleus roughly two miles across, Comet ISON may become the "Comet of the Century" when it reaches the inner solar system later this year. Amateur astronomers Vitali Nevski and Artyom Novichonok discovered Comet C/2012 S1 near Kislovodsk, Russia, on September 21, 2012; the comet was named ISON for the 0.4-meter telescope that discovered it, part of the International Scientific Optical Network.

Comet PANSTARRS won’t pass by Earth until this spring, but it’s already showing some unusual properties. Researchers have observed a bright halo of material surrounding the comet, a signal that it’s actively producing dust. This is great news for backyard astronomers, since dust and ice are what contribute to comets’ beautiful, long tails!