Comet, Meteor Sightings Prompt Calls

Comet Holmes is normally a faint object that can't be seen with the naked eye as it orbits the sun every seven years.

In October 2007, after Holmes made its closest approach to the sun for this pass, an explosion of gas on the surface of the comet created a huge cloud of gas and dust that itself became larger than the sun. As a result, the comet became visible to many people in areas away from city lights, most notably in Metro Atlanta, well away from the glow of the city and close-in suburbs.

On Monday night, many calls came in to 11Alive's news desk regarding colored lights in the sky. According to 11Alive Chief Meteorologist, the lights, seen anywhere from overhead to the near-northeastern portion of the sky, were from Comet Holmes, which itself was even visible as a faint cloud from within the city of Atlanta proper.

After Comet Holmes leaves the general vicinity of Earth on this pass, it will return to the inner Solar System early in 2014.

Later this week, the Geminid Meteor Shower, tied to a long-extinct comet, peaks. Normally, the peak is between December 13 and December 15 each year.

According to astronomers, the meteors generally appear in or near the constellation Gemini, and are usually yellowish in hue.