Comet 10P Tempel 2 Visible in August 2026
If Pearly Beach does not have clear skies, there's always the Little Karoo just around the corner.
The large Jupiter-family comet 10P Tempel 2 is within reach of binoculars and small telescopes. Currently in Capricornus, it is well clear of the eastern horizon by 22:00. Around 10 km in diameter, it orbits the Sun every 5.4 years. The comet was discovered in 1873 by Wilhelm Tempel. The orbital dust tail created from the particles ejected by the nucleus over hundreds of years can be seen in images of the comet. The comet reached perihelion on the 2nd August 2026, with a close approach to Earth the following day on the 3rd August (0.41 AU, 61 million km).
The Helix Nebula (NGC 7293) is a glowing, planetary nebula in the constellation Aquarius, located roughly 650 light-years from Earth. Often nicknamed the "Eye of God", it is the remnant of a dying, sun-like star that shed its outer layers, exposing its intensely hot central core.
