It was hoped that the comet would provide a spectacular sight in the sky next month - but the signs indicate that it had been burned up on its journey

Astronomers tracking the “comet of the century” believed it had flown too close to the Sun and had broken up, but hopes have now been reignited that part of it may have survived its close encounter.

Jim Al-Khalili's new two-part physics documentary Light and Dark had a scope that seemed just a little ambitious for two hours of television. "Light and Dark is essentially the story of everything we know and everything we don't know about our universe." So that's pretty much everything, then, Jim? Yet rather than the confusion of ideas you might expect, Al-Khalili's documentary illuminated a scientific story with its own, rather beautiful, internal logic.

The icy object might become the brightest comet of the century if it survives its 'sungrazing' journey through our solar system

Light-year-long proto-star is battling the radiation from its neighbours to try and mature into a star

"Potentially Hazardous Asteroids" (PHAs) can be as far away as 7.5 million kilometers

'Shooting stars' were a result of material falling from the tail of Comet Swift-Tuttle

The status of Derby favourite proved something of a poisoned chalice this spring, when first Kingsbarns and then Telescope dropped out of the Epsom picture with setbacks. Both are about to start making up for lost time, however, each having been given an exploratory Group Three entry this weekend. Telescope, who made an impressive resumption at Leicester last month, could go to Haydock on Saturday, while Kingsbarns is on course to reappear at the Curragh the following day.

The new discovery is thankfully only 300 metres across and orbits at a safe distance from Earth

They orbit Gliese 667C, one of three stars 22 light years away in the constellation of Scorpius

The night skies were graced by the arrival of the “supermoon” this weekend, offering skywatchers around the globe one of the most impressive celestial events of the year.

Sky watchers saw the moon appear substantially larger than usual as it reaches its closest point to the Earth

Top trainer suffering a Group One drought hopes Oaks fancy can shine in York rehearsal

Mr Lynam said he had voted for the Eurosceptic party last week

Did you know the iPhone was almost called the Telepod and other tech-naming near misses...

Also known as C/2011 L4, the comet won't be seen again from earth for another 110,000 years