Skip to Content
Space

Watch interstellar comet 2I/Borisov hurtle through space in this Hubble time-lapse

October 17, 2019
A time-lapse sequence of Hubble Space Telescope observations of comet 2I/Borisov, spanning a seven-hour period.
A time-lapse sequence of Hubble Space Telescope observations of comet 2I/Borisov, spanning a seven-hour period. NASA, ESA and J. DePasquale (STScI)

NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope has taken the best observations yet of 2I/Borisov, the first comet we've ever spotted visiting the solar system from interstellar space. The observations have been turned into a time-lapse that show the comet hurtling through space, 260 million miles away.

So, what can I see in this GIF: Hubble took the images over a seven-hour period on October 12. In them, you can see the central collection of dust and gas around the tiny nucleus of the comet in greater focus than before. The streaks of light zipping past are stars (plus one satellite) caught in the frames as Hubble tracks the comet’s progress at high speed.

The background: An amateur astronomer from Crimea first discovered 2I/Borisov in late August, and subsequent analysis of its trajectory and velocity confirmed it did not originate from the solar system. Astronomers soon spotted all the signs that pointed to the presence of a comet: a 6.2-mile-long tail, a hazy coma, and hydrogen cyanide gas shaving off the top, among other factors.

In fact, there really isn’t much that makes 2I/Borisov unique besides that fact that it came from outside the solar system. It’s quite unlike ‘Oumuamua, the first interstellar visitor on record, which was spotted in late 2017; it sported a bizarre rod shape and inexplicable acceleration as it exited the inner solar system. 

What’s next: 2I/Borisov is zipping through the solar system at 110,000 miles per hour and should make its closest flyby of the sun on December 7. By mid-2020, the comet will speed past Jupiter, about 500 million miles away, and continue on its path back into interstellar space. 

Deep Dive

Space

The search for extraterrestrial life is targeting Jupiter’s icy moon Europa

NASA’s Europa Clipper mission will travel to one of Jupiter's largest moons to look for evidence of conditions that could support life.

How scientists are using quantum squeezing to push the limits of their sensors

Fuzziness may rule the quantum realm, but it can be manipulated to our advantage.

The first-ever mission to pull a dead rocket out of space has just begun

Astroscale’s ADRAS-J spacecraft will inspect a dead Japanese rocket in orbit—a major moment in space-junk removal.

Journey to the eclipse

125 years ago, MIT Technology Review documented a total solar eclipse; it’s happening again in 2024.

Stay connected

Illustration by Rose Wong

Get the latest updates from
MIT Technology Review

Discover special offers, top stories, upcoming events, and more.

Thank you for submitting your email!

Explore more newsletters

It looks like something went wrong.

We’re having trouble saving your preferences. Try refreshing this page and updating them one more time. If you continue to get this message, reach out to us at customer-service@technologyreview.com with a list of newsletters you’d like to receive.