Two comets will pass near Earth between March 21st and 23rd. Comets 252P/LINEAR and P/2016 BA14 will pass between 14 and 9 lunar orbits with the Earth.  As both comets  have similar orbits they most likely broke in two following a close encounter with a planet’s gravity.

252P/LINEAR  has surprised everyone by brightening to magnitude 6 as it was predicted to remain in the 12-14 range.  Presently accessible to folks in the southern hemisphere it will be visible to northern observers after the Earth fly-by.