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Hubble Uncovers the Farthest Active Inbound Comet Yet Seen

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.
  • Release Date
    September 28, 2017
  • Science Release
    NASA’s Hubble Observes the Farthest Active Inbound Comet Yet Seen
    Read the release
  • Credit
    NASA, STScI, and Goddard Space Flight Center/K. Jackson; Music: “Space Cake” by Donn Wilerson [BMI] and Lance Sumner [BMI]; Killer Tracks BMI; Killer Tracks Production Music.

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Related Images & Videos

Distant Active Comet C/2017 K2

Distant Active Comet C/2017 K2

Hubble Uncovers the Farthest Active Inbound Comet Yet Seen This Hubble Space Telescope image shows a fuzzy cloud of dust, called a coma, surrounding the comet C/2017 K2 PANSTARRS (K2), the farthest active comet ever observed entering the solar system. Hubble snapped images of...

Compass Image for Comet C/2017 K2

Compass Image for Comet C/2017 K2

Schematic of Comet C/2017 K2's Approach to the Solar System

Schematic of Comet C/2017 K2's Approach to the Solar System

Comet K2's Orbit This illustration shows the orbit of comet C/2017 K2 PANSTARRS (K2) on its maiden voyage into the solar system. The Hubble Space Telescope observed K2 when it was 1.5 billion miles from the Sun, halfway between the orbits of Saturn and Uranus. The observations...

Schematic of Comet C/2017 K2's Approach to the Solar System (No Annotation)

Schematic of Comet C/2017 K2's Approach to the Solar System (No Annotation)

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Last Updated
Mar 14, 2025
Contact
Media

Claire Andreoli
NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center
Greenbelt, Maryland
claire.andreoli@nasa.gov

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