For the past 3 million years, Comet C/2017 K2 (PanSTARRS) has been falling toward the sun, a
long, slow journey from the outer solar system. Now, astronomers are finally catching a glimpse of this massive comet.

The comet will make its closest approach to Earth (1.8 AU away) on July 14th, brightening to
7th or 8th magnitude, too dim to see with the naked eye, but an easy target for backyard
telescopes.

Comet K2 is currently high in the midnight sky in the constellation Ophiuchus.

Listen to this week’s Made of Stars Podcast to learn about K2 and how long you will be able to see it in our sky.