MANILA, Philippines — Keep your heads up as the Comet Hartley 2, said to be the brightest comet this year, will pass close to Earth and dazzle the night sky on October 20.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said Comet Hartley 2 or 103P/Hartley is a small periodic comet with an orbital period of  6.46 years.

It was discovered by Malcolm Hartley in 1986 at the Schmidt Telescope Unit in Siding Spring, Australia.

Its diameter is estimated to be 1.2 to 1.6 km. PAGASA said the comet will pass within 17.95 million kilometers from the Earth on Oct. 20 and will be at perihelion (closest approach to the Sun) on Oct. 28.

“It has an apparent magnitude of +5 and will be trekking among the background stars of the constellations Cassiopeia, Perseus, and Auriga from the first day of the month and onward,” it said.

PAGASA said the comet will be visible with the naked eye under a normal dark sky condition.

“An observer must be familiar with the stars and constellations to be able to locate easily the comet’s location. The use of binoculars and a  modest size telescope will make it an easy target,” it said.

Also this month, the Orionids meteor shower will be active from Oct. 17 to 25.

According to PAGASA, the Orionids are fast meteors and also have fireballs.

“However, the nearly bright Full Moon interferes with this shower display,” PAGASA said.