Huge Comet near Earth

The comet, called C/2017 K2 (PANSTARRS) or "K2", has been travelling for millions of years from its home in the frigid outer reaches of the solar system, where the temperature is about minus 440 degrees Fahrenheit. Research with the Canada–France–Hawaii Telescope (CFHT) infers the comet nucleus to have a radius between 14–80 km (9–50 mi) The comet's orbit indicates that it came from the Oort Cloud, a spherical region almost a light-year in diameter and thought to contain hundreds of billions of comets. Comets are the icy leftovers from the formation of the solar system 4.6 billion years ago and therefore pristine in icy composition.

K2 was discovered in May 2017 by the Panoramic Survey Telescope and Rapid Response System (Pan-STARRS) in Hawaii, a survey project of NASA's Near-Earth Object Observations Program. Jewitt used Hubble's Wide Field Camera 3 at the end of June to take a closer look at the icy visitor.

Astronomers will have plenty of time to conduct detailed studies of K2. For the next five years, the comet will continue its journey into the inner solar system before it reaches its closest approach to the Sun in 2022 just beyond Mars' orbit.

[MrCateagle]

Yet another argument for moving outward and not leaving all our eggs in one basket. Too, an excellent argument for robust planetary defenses. Finally, on an artistic note, the music fits the action well

[thomasbell]

I do love this channel. They never disappoint.

[johnmothershead]

Question for actual astronomers out there.
Would the tail fade out as the nucleus passed into Earth's shadow?

[fatitankeris]

Surprisingly, not bad (realism-wise). Amazing work.

[timbermicka]

Meanwhile society has collapsed due to the sheer amount of chaos on Earth

[SimonZerafa]

I'm not sure that it impacting the Moon is much of a better outcome 🤔All that impact ejecta has to go somewhere and that's probably going to be in orbit or directed to Earth.

[orion]

Wonder what that would look like from earth. The meteor showers for the next few years would be spectacular

[JamesBond-vxst]

Does an asteroid or comet exist in the vast expanse of space that is destined to collide with Earth? The answer is straightforward: yes. It is not a question of IF Earth will encounter an asteroid or comet, but rather when this event will occur. It is hopeful that by that time, humans will have developed the necessary technology to safeguard our planet.

[TimmyHellhammer]

At the start i was like watch that f...er hit the moon. And it did!

[ChessMasterNate]

Speeds are too crazy high. Your missile is traveling at 50, 000 miles a second. That is 180, 000, 000 miles an hour. Looks cool though.

[steveb]

...and then the moon's orbit has been altered!

[oleg]

Будущее за Лунными направленными ударами ценных астероидов а после их осваиванию

[mariapatriciachavez]

thank you, I KNow .... moW...❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤, ❤❤❤😍😍😍🌈💕💕💕✨✨✨✨✨

[Assoy]

Kemeramennya siapa...? Superman camermen boy

[tomasporculis]

go to the scool, animator - comets tails allways are dirrected to the Sun

[YA-RUSSIAN]

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ПРЯМ ВАУ КАК КРУТО😮 И ВСЕГДА ЗАВОРАЖИВАЕТ ТА САМАЯ НЕИЗВЕСТНОСТЬ ГДЕ ТО ТАМ ОЧЕНЬ И ОЧЕНЬ ДАЛЕКО В КОСМОСЕ❤💫👀🛰🛸🚀⭐🌡🌠🔭📡❇🇷🇺✌