Huge, Distant Comet Already Active with a Coma

Astronomers analyze data from NASA’s TESS spacecraft and find that giant Comet Bernardinelli-Bernstein is already active and has a coma.

IMAGE: The Comet Bernardinelli-Bernstein (BB), represented in this artist rendition as it might look in the outer Solar System, is estimated to be about 1000 times more massive than a typical comet. The largest comet discovered in modern times, it is among the most distant comets to be discovered with a coma, which means ice within the comet is vaporizing and forming an envelope of dust and vapor around the comet’s core. CREDIT: NOIRLab/NSF/AURA/J. da Silva/Spaceengine

Astronomers are still working to understand that huge comet that was recently discovered and led Beth to yell at headline writers. Comet…