Huffington Post Science Posted: 01/26/2013 11:16 pm EST | Updated: 01/31/2013 9:06 pm EST
Comet Nevski-Novichonok (ISON) as it may appear at sunset on Nov. 29, if it survives its close encounter with the sun the day before.
By: Geoff Gaherty
Published: 01/25/2013 12:33 PM EST on SPACE.com
The year 2013 may someday be known as "the year of the comets." If all goes well we may see two of the brightest comets in many years, and possibly one of the brightest in history.
However, astronomers are being very cautious in their predictions because of past disappointments. As comet specialist David Levy says, "Comets are like cats; they have tails, and they do precisely what they want."
Once thought of as harbingers of doom, comets are now known to be normal members of our solar system. They are small bodies similar to asteroids. The majority spend most of their lives in the Oort Cloud, a mysterious region on the outer edge of the solar system. Now and then they venture close to the sun, and undergo a strange transformation.
To read the rest of this story and view the video visit Huffington Post
