Mmastodon ScienceSpace first seen 3 h ago, last 1 h ago, peak #3

Comet 161P/Hartley-IRAS Approaches Perihelion

Original: 2026-10-09 04:00:00 UTC (Delta: 2026-10-08) ☄️161P/HARTLEY-IRAS - Barycentric speed: 33.49 km/s (+0.08 km/s) - Perihelio

The periodic comet 161P/Hartley-IRAS is tracking toward its closest approach to the Sun, now expected in about 49 days. Automated tracking data put the comet's barycentric speed at 33.49 km/s, with a brightness of magnitude 14.40. At that magnitude it remains a target for small telescopes under dark skies, visible from both hemispheres in the constellation Aquarius.

Why now: Amateur astronomers are tracking the comet's steady brightening ahead of its perihelion passage.

161P/Hartley-IRASAquariusthe SunEarth

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Rank over time, top of the chart is #1. 2 snapshots from 3 h ago to 1 h ago.

Evidence

• 2026-10-09 04:00:00 UTC (Delta: 2026-10-08) ☄️161P/HARTLEY-IRAS - Barycentric speed: 33.49 km/s (+0.08 km/s) - Perihelion in: 49 days - Brightness (Mag): 14.40 (+0.03) - Visibility: Both hemispheres | Small telescope | Dark sky - Constellation: Aquarius 🌎 Relative to Earth -… · wawn · 2

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