Mmastodon ScienceSpace first seen 1 d ago, last 1 d ago, peak #5

Comet 161P/Hartley-IRAS Nears Perihelion as Brightness Creeps Up

Original: 2026-10-14 04:00:00 UTC (Delta: 2026-10-13) ☄️161P/HARTLEY-IRAS - Barycentric speed: 33.89 km/s (+0.08 km/s) - Perihelio

Amateur astronomers are tracking comet 161P/Hartley-IRAS, currently moving at about 33.9 km/s toward the Sun with perihelion expected in roughly 44 days. The comet sits at magnitude 14.76, visible from both hemispheres under dark skies with a small to medium telescope, in the constellation Equuleus. Observers are watching whether it brightens as it approaches.

Why now: Skywatchers follow comets as they approach perihelion, when brightness and visibility can change quickly.

161P/Hartley-IRASEquuleus

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Evidence

• 2026-10-14 04:00:00 UTC (Delta: 2026-10-13) ☄️161P/HARTLEY-IRAS - Barycentric speed: 33.89 km/s (+0.08 km/s) - Perihelion in: 44 days - Brightness (Mag): 14.76 (+0.04) - Visibility: Both hemispheres | Small/medium telescope | Dark sky - Constellation: Equuleus 🌎 Relative to… · wawn · 2

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