Comet will come within 27 million miles of Earth. It has a subtle green glow that is coming from molecules of carbon. When these ancient comets fall in from the outer solar system, they've been untouched since 4.6 billion years ago. Every time they get close to the sun, a little bit of those ancient gases gets evaporated into space.
This week star gazers will be hoping to catch sight of an exotic green comet that last passed by Earth 50,000 years ago. But, unlike the view our Neanderthal ancestors would have had, light pollution will make witnessing this celestial event an impossibility for many. Ian Sample speaks to astronomy journalist Dr Stuart Clark about how best to see the comet, and why it’s time to rethink our relationship with the night sky. Help support our independent journalism at
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