When to Catch the Massive , K2 Comet , Zooming Past Earth.<br />In May of 2017, the Hubble Space Telescope <br />first spotted the comet C/2017 K2 <br />(PanSTARRS), otherwise known as "K2.".<br />According to NASA, this is the first <br />time the K2 comet has entered <br />the Inner Solar System. .<br />Astronomers believe that K2 originated <br />in the distant Oort cloud before making <br />the long journey to our solar system.<br />Initially, scientists estimated <br />that the comet had a radius <br />of almost 11 miles in diameter. .<br />Research from the Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope suggests the comet's nucleus has a radius between nine and 50 miles.<br />According to early estimates, K2's tail <br />of gasses and dust is somewhere between <br />81,000 and 500,000 miles across.<br />According to Lifehacker, the best chance to see <br />K2 will be the night of July 14, as the comet <br />makes its closest approach to Earth.<br />Despite the massive size <br />of the comet, observers are likely to need <br />at least a small telescope to spot it.<br />The Virtual Telescope Project <br />will also live-stream <br />the July 14 event.<br />For anyone who misses the event, <br />the comet should remain visible <br />with a telescope until September. .<br />Lifehacker reports that K2 <br />will reach its closest distance to <br />the Sun in December of this year.
