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| NASA's Deep Impact spacecraft took this image of its quarry, comet Hartley 2, on Sept. 5, 2010. Deep Impact will make a planned close flyby of the comet in November. Credit: NASA/JPL/UM |
Typically during the course of a year about a dozen comets will come within the range of amateur telescopes. Most quietly come and go with little fanfare, but during the upcoming weeks one rather small comet will be making an unusually close approach to the Earth.
On Oct. 20, Comet Hartley 2 will pass just over 11 million miles from Earth. During October it should be easily visible in small telescope's, binoculars and from sites with dark enough skies even with the naked eye. This video sky map shows how to spot the comet.
