We have a Christmas comet: how to spot 2018's interplanetary bauble

December 12, 2018 11.34pm EST

We’re in for a pre-Christmas treat this weekend, as the cosmos entertains us with two equally exciting gifts: the Geminid meteor shower and the interplanetary comet 46P/Wirtanen.

The Geminids are actually an annual event. But the comet is a less frequent visitor, making a very close approach to Earth this year.

So what makes 46P/Wirtanen so special, and when can we see this comet hurtling across our skies?

Comets in orbits
Comets come in a variety of shapes and sizes, with the infamous Hale-Bopp comet roughly 120 kilometres across. Comet 46P/Wirtanen is much smaller: just 1.2km across.

More:
https://theconversation.com/we-have-a-christmas-comet-how-to-spot-2018s-interplanetary-bauble-108597