This comet is classified as a ‘Sun-grazing’ comet and will pass within about 850,000 miles of the Sun at perihelion. Comets are made of ice and dirt, so they are called dirty snowballs. Upon reaching perihelion, adding solar energy to the comet will cause the comet to convert to gas very rapidly, creating a bright coma surrounded by a very long tail. If the nucleus of this comet can withstand the effects of such a strong gravitational field, it is likely that it will become the ‘Great Comet’ of 2026, with forward scattering of light potentially making its tail visible even during morning twilight.
PC: NASA Science
