Planets and Moons  Universe  ID: 12724

Hubble Sees First-Time Icy Visitor Comet K2

NASA's Hubble Space Telescope observed the farthest-discovered active inbound comet, Comet K2. K2 came from the distant Oort Cloud and is visiting our inner solar system for the first (and only) time. Since we're seeing it so far away, past the orbit of Saturn, K2 is still in its early phase of activity, likely making it the most primitive comet anyone has ever seen.

Read the web story on nasa.gov.

Download the Hubble images on HubbleSite.org.

Read the science paper here.
 

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Credits

Lead Producer:
Katrina Jackson (USRA)

Host:
Katrina Jackson (USRA)

Editor:
Katrina Jackson (USRA)

Videographers:
Rob Andreoli (Advocates in Manpower Management, Inc.)
John Caldwell (Advocates in Manpower Management, Inc.)

Scientist:
David Jewitt (UCLA)

Please give credit for this item to:
NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center