This is the Week for Spotting Comet 10P/Tempel 2 for Oregon, Washington - But With Optics

Published 07/11/26 at 1:05 a.m.
By Oregon Coast Beach Connection Staff

(Manzanita, Oregon) - This week brings a new attraction to the skies above Oregon and Washington – but only if you've got some optical gear. Comet 10P/Tempel 2 has been slowly brightening and around July 14's new moon is probably the best time you've got to catch sight of it. (Above: Comet 10P / Tempel 2 taken in 1946, by H. M. Jeffers from the Lick Observatory)

NASA scientists are saying it's a short-period comet, meaning it comes back around the inner solar system every few years or so. It won't be the kind of stellar spectacle that the previous comets this decade created – like 31/Atlas or NEOWISE.

“Through binoculars or a telescope, find the constellation Capricornus and look for a small fuzzy glow nearby, possibly with a brighter central knot and a short, broad, fan-shaped tail,” NASA said.

Oregon Coast Beach Connection wasn't able to get permission to run any shots of it, but Mitsunoi Tsumura just snagged this rather stellar shot of the interstellar object in the last day.

NASA graphic

“For the best chance to view the comet, head somewhere dark, away from city lights,” NASA said. “Start looking once the sky is fully dark, ideally about 45 to 60 minutes after sunset.”

Tempel 2 was first identified in 1873 by German astronomer Ernst Wilhelm Tempel, and its designation reflects that history: “P” marks it as periodic, “10” indicates it was the tenth such comet to receive an official number, and “2” distinguishes it from another Tempel discovery.

How bright will it get?

Definitely not a naked eye situation. Forecasts for this year’s brightness vary, with optimistic estimates placing Tempel 2 near magnitude 7–8 and more conservative projections keeping it closer to magnitude 9–10. Stick to binoculars or small telescopes.

Pacific Northwest Weather | Oregon, Washington, Coastline (see NW from space) |---| Washington Coast Weather |---| Oregon Coast Weather |---| Inland Oregon Weather

Astronomers say large binoculars may work under dark skies, but a small telescope will provide more reliable results.

The 2026 return is considered one of the comet’s best in decades. Tempel 2 reaches perihelion on August 2 and makes its closest approach to Earth about a day later at roughly 0.414 AU. That won't do a lot for visibility, however. Scientists say it may make it easier to track and find it in the sky.

The ISS snaps Comet Atlas 3

July offers the most practical viewing window for Northern Hemisphere observers. The comet will still be faint but positioned higher in the sky than it will be in August, improving visibility from dark locations. Observers should look low in the southern sky, with the New Moon period around July 14 providing the best conditions.

Late July brings added interest as Tempel 2 brightens and passes near several helpful sky markers. On July 29, it will pass about half a degree from the globular cluster M30, creating a strong opportunity for charting it, but moonlight will interfere around that date.

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