The bright comet is approaching Earth in mid-December



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The comet passes "46 / Wirtanen" near the planet every 5.4 years. This time, the people of the Earth will be able to see it from December 16 to January 31, 2019.

The distance between the Earth and the celestial body will be only 11.5 million kilometers.

It should be noted that this comet is one of three comets discovered by astronomer Karl Vertanin in 1948 at Lake Observatory in California. The only comet was not visible to the naked eye in 1980 because it passed near the sun and was impossible to see.

Space.com announced that the comet had a relatively short orbital period of up to 20 years and was part of Jupiter's family.

Scientists confirm that the comet "46P / Wirtanen" will pass this year closer than the previous times of the Earth.

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