Mmastodon ScienceSpace first seen 16 h ago, last 14 h ago, peak #4

Comet 161P/Hartley-IRAS Nears Perihelion

Original: 2026-10-19 04:00:00 UTC (Delta: 2026-10-18) ☄️161P/HARTLEY-IRAS - Barycentric speed: 34.27 km/s (+0.07 km/s) - Perihelio

Comet 161P/Hartley-IRAS is tracking toward perihelion, expected in about 39 days, with its barycentric speed measured at 34.27 km/s and slowly increasing. The comet currently sits at magnitude 14.99, meaning it remains a faint target visible from both hemispheres with a small or medium telescope under dark skies, located in the constellation Delphinus. Amateur astronomers are sharing its brightness and speed updates as the object gradually approaches the Sun.

Why now: Amateur astronomers follow comet brightness and trajectory updates as 161P/Hartley-IRAS approaches perihelion.

161P/Hartley-IRASDelphinus

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Evidence

• 2026-10-19 04:00:00 UTC (Delta: 2026-10-18) ☄️161P/HARTLEY-IRAS - Barycentric speed: 34.27 km/s (+0.07 km/s) - Perihelion in: 39 days - Brightness (Mag): 14.99 (+0.05) - Visibility: Both hemispheres | Small/medium telescope | Dark sky - Constellation: Delphinus 🌎 Relative to… · wawn · 2

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