Rare comet will be visible for first time in nearly 70 years this weekend

This summer, a celestial phenomenon that can only be seen every seventy years will pass through the Nightsky. A comet follows an orbit, some passing by the earth, thus making them visible at steady intervals. There is still time to prepare for the arrival of Olbers comment (Comment 13P), which experts at Star Walk say Sunday, 30 June, will be the best night to see Olbers.

When was the comet discovered?

Olbers has been known to astronomers for over two hundred years. Discovered by Heinrich Wilhelm Matthias Olbers on 6 March 1815. This was not the only celestial body discovered by the German astronomer. He also discovered Vesta, the fourth asteroid to be identified in the night sky, a few years earlier, in March 1807, according to NASA.

How to watch

For those looking to catch a glimpse of the Olbers comet before Sunday, Star Walk writes that it can be seen in some areas of the United States with a telescope as it “has already exceeded a magnitude of 8 and is gradually getting brighter.” The magnitude of an object describes how well it can be seen from Earth. “For now, it’s visible in a telescope,” reports Star Walk. You can use the Sky Tonight app to see whether it can be viewed from your position on Earth and when you will get the best view in your neck of the woods.