Largest comet ever discovered is 12 times the size of Everest – and it's headed for our Solar System
THE largest comet every discovered is heading our way and it's about 11.5 times the size of Mount Everest.
Astronomers have their eye on the huge comet called Bernardinelli-Bernstein as it's heading towards our Solar System.
Bernardinelli-Bernstein is said to be at least 62 miles wide.
That's about 1,000 times more massive than your typical comet.
This is why lots of astronomers think it's the largest comet ever detected.
It's expected to arrive in our inner Solar System in 2031.
That's according to new research on arXiv.org.
Bernardinelli-Bernstein is so large it was once mistaken for a dwarf planet.
Closer inspection of the icy mass showed it has glowing tail.
This tail is an indicator of an icy comet heading for our warmer inner Solar System.
The good news is that the giant rock poses no threat to us on Earth.
It's currently 29 astronomical units away from us, which is about 29 times the distance between our planet and the Sun.
New research suggest's Bernardinelli-Bernstein's closest approach to Earth will happen sometime in 2031.
It should come just outside of Saturn's orbit so still pretty far away from Earth but firmly in our Solar System.
That's still far enough away that you'll need a telescope to spot it.
Scientists studied the comet's trajectory and think the last time it visited our Solar System was 3.5 million years ago.
It also so far away that humans would never have laid eyes on it before.
Scientists hope its impending approach could help teach us more about out Solar System in its early stages.
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In other news, three entirely new lifeforms were recently discovered at different locations onboard the International Space Station.
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