Quantcast

What is the next comet's name...

Print Friendly and PDF
What is the next comet’s name and when will it be seen?
Answer
There is no telling when the next comet will arrive. Almost all comets are unpredictable visitors to our solar system. And there can be many comets visible at the same time. However, most comets are so faint that they can be seen only in large telescopes. The name of a comet is not predetermined like the names of hurricanes. A comet is named after the first person to inform the International Astronomical Union (IAU) of the discovery. In case of near-simultaneous discoveries by more than one observer, the comet is named after the first two or three independent observers to notify the IAU. (Guest Expert Dietrich Gudzent, Mount Pleasant, Ohio)