Catch Comet Swan
4/9/2025

Comet SWAN (C/2025 F2) was discovered using the SWAN camera on SOHO by amateur astronomers in March 2025. Officially named on April 8, it is currently visible in the northeastern sky at dawn and will transition to the evening sky by late April. The comet has been brightening and is expected to peak at magnitude 3.6 by its perihelion on May 1, as it passes near the Pleiades cluster. Mid-northern latitude observers are best positioned to view the comet, which offers a rare opportunity for astronomers and skywatchers.

Meteors Shed Light on Comet Composition
8/22/2024

In a study recently published in Icarus, researchers using visual and video observations of 47 young meteor showers have found differences in the sizes of meteoroids produced by short-period and long-period comets. The difference in meteoroid sizes may be a relic of the conditions in the early solar system when these objects formed. Jupiter-family comets usually crumble into smaller, denser meteoroids, whereas long-period (Oort Cloud) comets often crumble into sizes indicative of gentle accretion conditions.

Comet's impact triggered downfall of ancient Hopewell?
2/1/2022

The rapid decline of the Hopewell culture about 1,500 years ago might be explained by falling debris from a near-Earth comet that created a devastating explosion over North America, laying waste to forests and Native American villages alike. Researchers found evidence of a cosmic airburst at 11 Hopewell archaeological sites in three states stretching across the Ohio River Valley.