What is the green comet?
The green comet is a comet that has not been visible from Earth in the night sky in 50,000 years and will be visible here in Boston tonight.
Why is this comet special?
“Comets are notoriously unpredictable, but if this one continues its current trend in brightness, it'll be easy to spot with binoculars, and it's just possible it could become visible to the unaided eye under dark skies,” according to NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory at the California Institute of Technology. So basically, a rare comet like this is special because it will be easy for regular people to see.
When can I see the green comet this week in Boston?
Boston and the Northern Hemisphere, in general, can see the Green Comet this week using telescopes and binoculars again tonight if you look low on the northeastern horizon.
How can I see the green comet from Boston?
As the green comet gets closer to Earth, stargazers should be able to see it near the star Polaris, which is also called the North Star and can be distinguished by its streaking tails of dust, i.e. it will look like a “shooting star”. One of the reasons it is called a green comet is that it will have a glowing green aura around it called a “coma”, which is an envelope that forms around a comet when it gets closer to the sun because the ice in it turns directly to gas—giving it a fuzzy look.
For more free things to do this week check out our guide to the best things to do in Boston and if you are staying up late to see the comet, perhaps swing by one of our favorite bars beforehand to make a full night out it!