Amateur and professional astronomers around the world, who are tracking the rare and spectacular disintegration of comet 73P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 3, can observe the dying comet on May 12 when it passes the Earth. The comet will be visible to sky observers at a distance of 11.7 million kms only through a powerful telescope, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research senior astronomer Mayank Vahia said.