Advertisement

Readers like you keep news free for everyone.

More than 5,000 readers have already pitched in to keep free access to The Journal.

For the price of one cup of coffee each week you can help keep paywalls away.

Support us today
Not now
Sunday 4 June 2023 Dublin: 12°C

# Comet

This year
2023
# Look Up
Green comet to make its closest approach to Earth in 50,000 years tonight
The comet will be visible in a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
18.5k
7
Feb 1st 2023, 4:06 PM
# astronomers
Once in 50,000-year comet may be visible to the naked eye
It should be easy to spot with binoculars and likely even with the naked eye, provided the sky is not too illuminated by city lights or the Moon.
31.7k
9
Jan 7th 2023, 7:51 AM
All time
# look to the skies
Quiz: How much do you know about comets?
Test your knowledge here.
26.1k
28
Jul 24th 2020, 9:30 PM
# distant comet
After a seven month nap, the tiny Philae probe has woken up and made contact
Hello again, little lander.
14.4k
23
Jun 14th 2015, 4:31 PM
# Philae Lander
People are emotional about the tiny comet lander finally waking up from its nap
The little craft that could.
3.4k
1
Jun 14th 2015, 4:08 PM
# don't wanna miss a thing
Video: An asteroid the size of a cruise ship passed over Ireland last night
But it was never going to hit earth, thankfully.
9.4k
20
Jan 27th 2015, 8:43 AM
# Lovejoy
Look up: You've two weeks to see a glowing green comet
Comet Lovejoy is paying a visit.
25.9k
26
Jan 9th 2015, 10:00 PM
# bounce bounce bounce
Check out these new hi-res pics of Philae's hairy 'bounce' landing
In space, no one can hear you BOUNCE.
13.9k
15
Nov 17th 2014, 10:29 PM
# goodnight tiny probe
The last tweets from the comet lander are pretty heartbreaking...
The Philae lander, perched on a distant comet hurtling towards the Sun, delivered everything scientists were expecting of it before losing power.
53.3k
56
Nov 15th 2014, 8:34 PM
# Prime Numbers
House prices, Too Many Cooks, and Stephanie Roche: The week in numbers
Plus: How many people should have had their fingerprints taken by gardaí over the past two years but didn’t?
12.1k
0
Nov 15th 2014, 7:30 PM
# sleep tight
Philae probe has fallen asleep after its batteries ran out
The robot probe managed to transfer all of the data it collected to its mother ship before it took its eternal nap.
17.7k
58
Nov 15th 2014, 8:29 AM
# comet landing
Philae hopes to communicate drilling results soon, but could it be its final hours?
Due to the lander’s position scientists are concerned about the battery supply.
8.8k
13
Nov 14th 2014, 9:33 PM
# Comet The Day
Philae seems to be stuck under a cliff with one leg dangling in space
That means it may not be able to fully charge its solar-powered batteries.
28.4k
41
Nov 13th 2014, 5:51 PM
# news wrap
Today's top stories in 6 seconds
Don’t have time to mull over the news? Here’s everything you need to know.
8.3k
0
Nov 13th 2014, 12:56 PM
# rosetta
TOUCHDOWN! European probe leaves its mothership and lands on comet for first time ever
There are huge celebrations today at the European Space Agency.
11.8k
61
Nov 12th 2014, 4:29 PM
# happening now
Why we're trying to land a probe the size of fridge on a speeding comet
‘We’ as in ‘the human race’.
8.2k
26
Nov 12th 2014, 8:00 AM
# dark side of the comet
Ever wanted to see a comet up close? You're in luck
The photos were shot from a distance of 30km or less.
12.6k
15
Nov 10th 2014, 7:27 PM
# together at last
Rosetta spacecraft reaches comet it's been chasing for ten years
For today, Rosetta will travel alongside the comet but will later start its orbits.
11.4k
76
Aug 6th 2014, 10:30 AM
# Hey Rosetta
'World Cup final' event as 6 billion km comet-chaser nears its target
“Rosetta, meet Churyumov-Gerasimenko”.
17.6k
49
Aug 4th 2014, 2:32 PM
# space probe
Comet-chasing probe sends back pics of 'strange-looking potato' formation
The Rosetta probe is due to land on the comet in November – and its latest pictures suggest it is made of two distinct parts.
7.4k
12
Jul 17th 2014, 5:52 PM
# Shooting Star
Ireland could* be the best place in the world to see a stunning meteor shower tonight
*Weather permitting of course, but it’s not looking too good right now…
22.0k
37
May 23rd 2014, 7:58 PM
# Astronomy
Comet ISON will brush past the Sun at half 6 this evening, but will it survive?
The comet could simply melt due to the heat — or it could survive and light up our skies next month.
10.7k
33
Nov 28th 2013, 3:41 PM
Voices
Column: Eyes to the sky – Comet ISON might just be visible
Comet ISON is just days away from its close encounter with the sun, writes Conor Farrell, who tells us more about this ‘sungrazer’ comet.
79
27
Nov 25th 2013, 7:30 PM
# Eyes to the sky
Comet visible in Irish skies tonight
Comet PANSTARRS will be seen next to the Andromeda Galaxy in the northwest.
24.9k
24
Apr 5th 2013, 6:29 PM
# Eyes to the sky
Meteor shower: Astronomy Ireland wants you to be their eyes
The perseid meteor shower is underway. Get out and have a look!
14.9k
29
Aug 11th 2012, 3:45 PM
# Astronomy
Meteors to rain down on Earth over coming week
Eyes to the sky, Astronomy Ireland are expecting a celestial firework show this weekend.
10.9k
13
Aug 9th 2012, 7:15 AM
# Fireball
Search on for comet fragments after fireball seen over Ireland
Did you see a fireball last night? If you did, you’re urged to get in touch with Astronomy Ireland, who are trying to determine if it landed on Irish soil.
935
8
Aug 23rd 2011, 11:56 AM
# Earthquake
Seen from space: the Christchurch earthquake
A shocking new satellite image shows the power of the earthquake that rocked New Zealand last month.
1.8k
0
Mar 7th 2011, 5:07 PM