Ss540
In short
Ss540 is a bright comet that is currently visible in the night sky during its closest approach to Earth.
In plain words
A comet is a large ball of ice and dust from space. As it gets closer to the sun, it heats up and creates a glowing tail. People can see it with the naked eye or binoculars.
A simple example
On a clear night, you might see a faint, fuzzy streak of light moving slowly across the stars. This streak is the comet's tail stretching out behind it.
Why it matters
Comets provide scientists with clues about how our solar system formed billions of years ago. They are also rare celestial events that bring people together to watch the sky.
Easy to mix up
Do not confuse it with a meteor, which is a single streak of light that burns up quickly in the atmosphere.