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Explanation: Imaged on July 15 2022, comet C/2017 K2 (PanSTARRS) had a Messier moment, sharing this wide telescopic field of view with globular star cluster Messier 10. Of course M10 was cataloged by 18th century comet hunter Charles Messier as the 10th object on his list of things that were definitely not comets. While M10 is about 14 thousand light-years distant, this comet PanSTARRS was about 15 light-minutes from our fair planet following its July 14 closest approach. Its greenish coma and dust tail entertaining 21st century comet watchers, C/2017 K2 is expected to remain a fine telescopic comet in...

Comet C/2017 K2 will be at its closest point to us for the next few million years this week. Hubble caught sight of comet K2 when it was out between the orbits of Saturn and Uranus. NASA, ESA, and A. Feild (STScI) One of the largest comets known is about to zip by our planet on the only trip through the inner solar system it will make during our lifetimes. Five years ago, the Hubble Space Telescope spotted a large comet at the farthest distance ever, as it was approaching the sun from way out between the orbits of Saturn...