Comet ISON: 5 Things You Should Know

 

NASA

Oct 3, 2013 12:45 PM ET // by Irene Klotz  SOURCE

Visiting comets don’t come around very often, particular ones on their first trek through the inner solar system. The chance to study pristine materials believed to date back from the formation of the solar system is one reason why scientists and armchair astronomers alike are eagerly awaiting Comet ISON. The celestial guest, which likely originated in the Oort cloud located about 50,000 times farther away from the sun than Earth, is due to make a close flyby of the sun on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 28.