NASA’s STEREO-A Spacecraft Spots Comet Encke Passing Near the Sun

Comet NEOWISE deservedly grabbing all the attention, but in other news, comet 2P/Encke has finally perked up.

By early July, skywatchers at southern latitudes will nab the comet shining around magnitude 7.5 to 8 as it crosses Cancer in evening twilight. Moving rapidly eastward, the comet fades quickly, dimming to 11th magnitude by month's end.

Comet Encke has the shortest orbital period of any known comet within our solar system. It takes 3.30 years for Encke to orbit the Sun once. Its nucleus measures approximately 2,98 miles (4.8 kilometers) in diameter.


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