A striking “green comet,” approximately the size of a small city, is currently visible in the night sky as it approaches Earth. Dubbed C/2024 E1 (Wierzchoś), this comet is predicted to be ejected from our solar system, destined to drift through interstellar space, similar to the comet 3I/ATLAS.
Discovered in March 2024 by Polish astronomer Kacper Wierzchoś at the Mount Lemmon Observatory in Arizona, the comet has been observed by the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST). JWST detected significant amounts of carbon dioxide in its coma – the cloud of gas and dust surrounding the comet’s icy core.
Initial analysis of JWST data suggested the comet’s nucleus has a diameter of roughly 8.5 miles (13.7 kilometers). However, more recent, yet-to-be peer-reviewed studies suggest this estimate may be an overestimate.
C/2024 E1 (Wierzchoś) originates from the Oort cloud, a distant reservoir of icy objects at the outer edge of the solar system. It’s considered a hyperbolic comet, meaning its trajectory is open and flattened, and it won’t repeatedly orbit the sun. Researchers suspect What we have is the first time this comet has ventured into the inner solar system.
The comet reached perihelion – its closest approach to the sun – on , at a distance of approximately 52 million miles (84 million km). Experts believe the gravitational forces at play will ultimately propel it out of our solar system and into interstellar space, a process that could take decades or even centuries to complete.
Going, Going, Gone
Once ejected, the comet will spend millions, potentially billions, of years drifting through the Milky Way, occasionally passing through other star systems. This mirrors the journey of 3I/ATLAS, which was ejected from its home star system long before our sun was born.
3I/ATLAS was first spotted in and reached perihelion in late , before swinging past Earth in mid-. While some initially speculated it might be an alien spacecraft, evidence overwhelmingly confirms its natural cometary origin.
C/2024 E1 (Wierzchoś) will make its closest approach to Earth on , at a distance of approximately 94 million miles (151 million km) – roughly the distance between Earth and the sun.
The comet recently passed perihelion, becoming brighter and developing a visible tail of gas and dust. Austrian astrophotographer Gerald Rhemann captured a striking image of the comet on , showcasing its green glow.
The green hue is likely due to its high carbon content, a phenomenon observed in other comets, though the exact cause remains under investigation. While not visible to the naked eye, the comet can be observed with a telescope or binoculars.
From the Northern Hemisphere, the comet will be visible above the southwestern horizon after sunset, passing through the constellation Sculptor. It will be more easily observed from the Southern Hemisphere.
For detailed viewing information, visit TheSkyLive.com.
2026 is proving to be a remarkable year for comet enthusiasts, following the excitement surrounding 3I/ATLAS, as well as comets Lemmon and SWAN. Astronomers have also recently discovered a new “sungrazing” comet, C/2026 A1 (MAPS), which may become visible to the naked eye during the day in early April, provided it survives its close encounter with the sun.
Another potentially bright comet, C/2025 R3 (PanSTARRS), may also become visible without a telescope as it nears the sun and Earth in late April. The newly operational Vera C. Rubin Observatory is expected to aid in the discovery of even more hidden objects, potentially including future interstellar visitors.
