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Comet C/2024 E1 to Pass Closest to Earth February 17

2/18/2026

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Story summary
  • C/2024 E1 (Wierzchos) will pass about 94 million miles from Earth on February 17, its closest approach.
  • The comet was discovered in 2024 by Polish astronomer Kacper Wierzchos and observed by the James Webb Space Telescope.
  • Its brightness is +8.2, making it invisible to the naked eye.
  • After February 17, it will rise higher and enter Eridanus by early March as it dims moving away from the Sun.