Comets are large balls of ice and dust. As it nears the sun, the ice melts and forms a cloud around it. The cloud stretches out and forms a long glowing tail. The tail always points away from the sun, blown by the solar wind. The comet’s tail is millions of times bigger than the comet, making the comet easy to find.

Comet 2P/Encke’s glowing and fuzzy appearance can be seen best by using binoculars after sunset on December 9 and 10, before the moon appears in the sky. Look to the western horizon and find the Summer Triangle. Comet Encke’s tail will look like it’s standing straight up from the horizon, pointing toward the constellation Cygnus (the Swan) in the Summer Triangle. The comet will disappear from our view by December 11. Encke will reappear in February but be difficult to see without a big telescope. It will be on the far side of the sun as seen from Earth as it moves away from the sun.