Normally, periodic
Comet 220P/McNaught is so dim that to see it requires a telescope.

Two surprising outbursts this year, however, have made it about 20,000 times brighter than usual, so that it is now visible with binoculars and long-duration
camera exposures.

As expected, Comet 220P continues to orbit the
Sun between
Mars and
Jupiter with a period of over 5 years.

The
featured long duration exposure, taken 10 days ago from
South Africa, shows the
comet's
bright
green head and short
dust tail.

Reasons for
Comet 220P's impressive outbursts are unknown but could be
caused by the
release of built-up subsurface gas or
comet quakes.

Comet 220P will pass about
one Earth-Sun distance from the
Earth in October,
after which it is expected to
fade quickly
as it begins its return to the far part of its orbit.