Comet Siding Spring

October 19, 2014

Comets are fascinating objects made of ice and rock that come from the very edges of the outer solar system. Comets may be more than 4.6 billion years old – older than our solar system. These frozen time capsules contain information about the very beginnings of our solar system, and may be responsible for delivering organic molecules – the building blocks of life – to Earth.

On October 19, 2014, Comet Siding Spring will pass close to Mars, coming within 82,000 miles (132,000 km) of the Red Planet. That does not seem very close, but consider that if Comet Siding Spring was to pass that close to Earth, it would be three times closer to the Earth than the Moon! This close encounter gives NASA’s spacecraft operating at Mars the unique opportunity to monitor Comet Siding Spring and the interaction of its dust with the atmosphere, and to learn more about these infrequent visitors to our inner solar system.

Check out the resources below for activities and programming ideas for comets, including Comet Siding Spring and its close encounter with Mars.

Camp Professionals’ Guide to Comets	Families’ Guide to Comets
Librarians’ Guide to Comets	Teachers’ Guide to Comets
National Parks’ Guide to Comets