Comet Encke 2027: When It Returns and How to See It
Comet Encke is coming back in 2027. It may get bright enough for binoculars, but catching it won’t be easy: around its brightest time, the comet will appear very close to the Sun. Here’s when to start watching and what to expect from 2P/Encke’s next return. To check the comet’s position and visibility for your exact location, use the Sky Tonight app.
Contents
- Comet Encke 2027: At a Glance
- Comet Encke Next Appearance: Visibility in 2027
- Comet Encke 2027: Finder Charts
- Comet Encke: Frequently Asked Questions
- When will Comet Encke return?
- Facts about Comet Encke
- Comet Encke 2027: Bottom line
Comet Encke 2027: At a Glance
- Name: Comet Encke, officially designated 2P/Encke
- Next return: February 2027; the comet is already on its way back toward the Sun
- Next closest approach to Earth: February 3, 2027
- Next perihelion: February 10, 2027
- Best visibility: Northern Hemisphere – January 2027; Southern Hemisphere – late February 2027
- Expected peak brightness: around mag 6 (potentially visible with binoculars or small telescopes)
Comet Encke Right Now
As of May 2026:
- Current brightness: ~ mag 19 (too faint for binoculars or small backyard telescopes)
- Distance to the Sun: ~ 3 AU
- Distance to Earth: ~ 4 AU
- Constellation: Pisces
Comet Encke Next Appearance: Visibility in 2027
Comet Encke is coming back — but don’t rush outside just yet. Right now, it is beyond the reach of binoculars and most amateur telescopes. At this stage, it can only be detected with large professional telescopes and long-exposure imaging.
Things will start to improve in late 2026. By December, Comet Encke may brighten to about magnitude 13, putting it within reach of experienced observers with large amateur telescopes. By early January 2027, it should be around magnitude 11.
Then the comet should brighten fast. By early February 2027, it may get roughly 100 times brighter, reaching about magnitude 6. However, the brighter Comet Encke gets, the closer it appears to the Sun in the sky. That means evening twilight may wash it out, even when the numbers look promising.
Before perihelion, Comet Encke should be visible from both hemispheres in the evening sky, shortly after sunset, with Northern Hemisphere observers getting the better view. Around perihelion, the comet will likely be at its brightest but too close to the Sun to observe. After that, Northern Hemisphere observers will mostly lose it, as it rises almost at the same time as the Sun. Southern Hemisphere observers, however, may still catch it low before dawn for a while, as it gradually fades.
Comet Encke 2027: Visibility in the Northern Hemisphere
- January 2027: This is the best month for Northern Hemisphere observers. After sunset, the comet will be placed fairly well in the western sky. At the start of January, it will still be dim — around magnitude 11 — so telescopes and cameras will have the best chance. Toward the end of the month, it may brighten to about magnitude 6.5, but it will also drop lower night by night and move closer to the Sun’s glare.
- Early February 2027: The comet will reach its maximum brightness (about magnitude 6). It may be bright enough for binoculars, but catching it will require good timing. It will set only about an hour after the Sun, so the useful observing window will be short and the sky may still be bright. For the best chance, find an open western horizon and start searching as soon as the twilight becomes dark enough.
- February 4–13, 2027: Too close to the Sun for normal observing. The comet will be lost in bright twilight, and pointing binoculars or a telescope near the Sun can seriously damage your eyes.
- Mid–late February 2027: Comet Encke will be practically out of view from the Northern Hemisphere, rising almost at sunrise and leaving no real dark-sky window.
Comet Encke 2027: Visibility in the Southern Hemisphere
- January 2027: Look for Comet Encke low in the western sky after sunset. A telescope or long-exposure camera will work best at the beginning of the month, when the comet is around magnitude 11. By late January, it may brighten toward magnitude 6.5, but it will also sink lower each evening, so choose a spot with a clear horizon.
- Early February 2027: Comet Encke may be near its brightest (about mag 6), but it will be very poorly placed. It will set almost together with the Sun, leaving little to no dark sky for observation. Even if the comet is bright enough on paper, twilight and its low position above the western horizon will make it extremely difficult to see.
- February 4–13, 2027: Too close to the Sun for normal observing. A rare exception may come on February 6, when experienced observers along the annular eclipse path in South America and West Africa could try detecting it with properly filtered telescopes or cameras.
- Mid–late February 2027: Comet Encke moves into the morning sky. Look for it low before dawn, ideally from a dark site with an open eastern horizon. It will rise earlier each day, giving you a longer observing window, but it will also fade quickly. By the end of February, it may dim to about magnitude 10, so a telescope will be a better choice than binoculars.
Comet Encke 2027: Finder Charts
The finder charts below show where Comet Encke will be in January and February 2027. January is a better month for observing: the comet will be fainter but easier to place in a dark sky. In February, it should become brighter, but it will move much closer to the Sun and become much harder to see.
Comet Encke in January 2027
Amateur astronomers can start looking for Comet Encke in early January 2027, when it should come within reach of many amateur telescopes. During the month, the comet will brighten quickly while moving closer to the Sun in the sky. By late January, observers under dark, clear skies may try spotting it with binoculars.
- Early January: Comet Encke begins the month in Pegasus. Look near the Great Square of Pegasus: the star Markab (mag 2.4), at the upper-left corner of the Square, points roughly toward the comet. Another useful landmark is Enif (mag 2.3); the comet will appear above it.
- January 8–9: Comet Encke crosses from Pegasus into Aquarius.
- January 13–25: The comet slowly passes between the “arms” of the Y-shaped Water Jar asterism in Aquarius.
- January 31: Comet Encke passes between Mercury (mag -0.8) and the globular cluster M2 (mag 6.3).
Comet Encke in February 2027
In early February, Comet Encke should be near its peak brightness, but it will also be very close to the Sun in the evening sky. This will make observations difficult or even impossible around perihelion. After perihelion, the comet will return to the morning sky mainly for Southern Hemisphere observers. By then, it will already be fading and will be better suited for telescopes than binoculars.
- February 1–2: Comet Encke crosses from Aquarius into Capricornus. The Sun will be in the same constellation, so twilight will seriously interfere with observations.
- February 5: The comet briefly slips back from Capricornus into Aquarius. This won’t make it easier to see: the comet will still be very close to the Sun.
- February 6: Comet Encke will appear about 3° from the Sun during the annular solar eclipse. Observers along the eclipse path in parts of South America and West Africa may attempt to image the comet near the eclipsed Sun, although the bright sky during the annular eclipse will make detection extremely difficult. This is an advanced observation only: use certified solar filters on all optical equipment, follow the exact eclipse timing for your location, and never look at the Sun through binoculars, a telescope, or a camera without proper solar protection.
- February 7: Comet Encke returns from Aquarius to Capricornus. It will still be lost in the Sun’s glare and too difficult for normal observing.
- February 8: The comet passes about 5° from several deep-sky objects: the Saturn Nebula (mag 7.9), M72 (mag 9.1), and M73 (mag 8.9). Unfortunately, the comet will be too close to the Sun to make this a realistic observing or photography opportunity.
- February 28: Comet Encke approaches the globular cluster M75 (mag 9.1) by about 10°. Bright Venus (mag -4.1) will also shine nearby, making this a useful landmark for locating the area before dawn.
How to find Comet Encke in the sky?
The easiest way to find Comet Encke is to use the astronomy app Sky Tonight. Here’s how to do it:
- Tap the magnifying glass icon on the main screen.
- Type “Encke” in the search field and tap the blue target icon next to the comet’s name in the search results. The app will show you where the comet is right now on the sky map.
- Tap the blue compass icon or point your device at the sky. Now, follow the arrow to find the comet in the sky above you.
Pro tip: tap and hold Comet Encke on the sky map and then move your finger along its trajectory to see how the comet changes its position over time. This can help you find the best time for observations for your location.
Comet Encke: Frequently Asked Questions
When will Comet Encke return?
Comet Encke is already on its way back toward the Sun. It will pass closest to Earth on February 3, 2027, and reach perihelion — its closest point to the Sun — on February 10, 2027.
When is Comet Encke’s next appearance?
Comet Encke’s next visible appearance will be in January–February 2027. January should offer easier viewing in the evening sky, while early February may bring higher brightness but worse conditions: the comet will be close to the Sun and will set soon after sunset.
What do I need to see Comet Encke in 2027?
In January 2027, Comet Encke will likely require a telescope or long-exposure camera. By late January or early February, it may become bright enough to try with binoculars under dark, clear skies, but twilight and low altitude will make it difficult.
How often does Comet Encke return?
Comet Encke returns to the inner Solar System about every 3.3 years. This is the shortest orbital period of any well-known comet, which is why Encke is one of the most frequently observed periodic comets.
When was Comet Encke last seen?
Comet Encke has been observed by astronomers at every perihelion since 1818 except 1944, when wartime conditions hampered observations. The comet's last perihelion occurred on October 22, 2023. The next one will occur February 10, 2027.
When will Comet Encke return after its 2027 appearance?
After its 2027 return, Comet Encke will come back again in 2030. Its next perihelion after 2027 is expected around June 1, 2030, though the exact timing may be refined as new observations are added.
Facts about Comet Encke
- Official designation: 2P/Encke
- Type: Short-period comet
- Orbital period: About 3.3 years
- Nucleus diameter: About 4.8 km
- First observed: 1786
- Named after: Johann Franz Encke, who calculated its orbit
- Linked meteor shower: The Taurids
Comet Encke is a short-period comet. If you want a quick refresher on comet types, tails, and orbits, read our guide to what comets are.
5 fun facts about Comet Encke
- As is evident from its designation, comet 2P/Encke was the second periodic comet ever discovered. The first was the famous Halley's Comet (designated 1P/Halley).
- Comet Encke is believed to be the parent body of the Taurid meteor showers (the Northern and Southern Taurids in November and the Beta Taurids in June and July).
- Compared to many other comets, Comet Encke has quite a short tail. After countless encounters with the Sun, the comet has probably lost most of its ice needed to form a long tail.
- According to one hypothesis, the celestial body that caused the Tunguska event in 1908 could be a fragment of Comet Encke.
- One theory states that the ancient symbol of the swastika, which was used by cultures all over the world, could have been inspired by the breakup of Comet Encke’s “progenitor”.
Who discovered Comet Encke?
Although Comet Encke is named after German astronomer Johann Franz Encke, he was not the first to see it. It was first observed independently by two French astronomers Pierre Méchain and Charles Messier in 1786. Then, it was seen by British astronomer Caroline Herschel in 1795 and by another French astronomer Jean-Louis Pons in 1818. However, all these astronomers didn’t realize they saw one and the same comet. Johann Franz Encke calculated the comet’s orbit and proved that previous observations were of the same object. In 1819, he published his conclusions in an astronomical journal and correctly predicted that the comet would return in 1822.
Comet Encke’s orbital period
Comet 2P/Encke belongs to a category of periodic comets (it is designated by the letter “P” in the comet’s name). Such comets have orbital periods of less than 200 years. Comet Encke has the shortest orbital period among all known bright comets within the Solar System — it takes only 3.3 years to orbit the Sun once.
Comet Encke 2027: Bottom line
Comet Encke will return in early 2027, passing closest to Earth on February 3 and reaching perihelion on February 10. The best time to start observing it will be January 2027, when the comet appears in the evening sky and is still far enough from the Sun. By early February, it will get very close to the Sun, making observations difficult. After perihelion, Comet Encke will be mostly lost for Northern Hemisphere observers but may still be visible low before dawn from the Southern Hemisphere. Use Sky Tonight to find Comet Encke in your sky and check the best time to observe it.
While waiting for Comet Encke’s 2027 return, you can practice your comet-hunting skills on other targets. Check our regularly updated guide to upcoming comets to see which comets are visible now and which ones are worth watching next.
