Aim your telescope for Comet Hartley 2

William Atkins
Saturday, 02 October 2010 23:14

Science - Space

Comet 103P/Harley is a small periodic comet that will pass within 11.2 million miles of Earth on October 20, 2010. It is already a nice sight for people with backyard telescopes.

 

Comet Hartley 2, officially known as 103P/Hartley, has an orbital period of 6.46 years.

Discovered by Australian astronomer Malcolm Hartley in 1986 while using the Schmidt Telescope Unit in Siding Spring, Australia, the comet will become an important part of our exploration of space.

The EPOXI (formerly known as Deep Impact) spacecraft is heading toward the comet.

On November 4, 2010, the NASA spacecraft, whose mission is coordinated by personnel at the University of Maryland, is scheduled to fly by Hartley 2 at a distance of about 435 miles (700 kilometers).

The encounter will be the fifth such flyby of a comet, one close enough to image the core of the comet.

However, we'll get to see the comet earlier, at its closest approach to Earth, on October 20, 2010. And, even earlier as it comes closer to Earth on its way to its closest approach to the Sun.

At that time, on October 20, it will approach Earth at its closest point, about 11.2 million miles (18.1 million kilometers), or about 0.12 astronomical unit (AU).

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