The View Toward M101 . ... Credit Copyright: Fritz Helmut Hemmerich Explanation: Sweeping through northern skies, Comet Catalina (C/2013 US10) made its closest approach on January 17, passing about 6 light-minutes from our fair planet. Dust and ion tails clearly separated in this Earth-based view, the comet is also posed for a Messier moment , near the line-of-sight to M101, grand spiral galaxy in Ursa Major. ... NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings, and Disclaimers . NASA Official: Jay Norris. ...