A vivid comet could possibly be seen in skies throughout the globe over the approaching days for the primary time in 160,000 years.
Nasa mentioned the long run brightness of a comet is “notoriously exhausting” to foretell, however that Comet C/2024 G3 (Atlas) might stay vivid sufficient to be seen by the bare eye.
On Monday, the comet was at perihelion, the purpose at which it’s closest to the Solar, which influences how vivid it seems. Specialists say it could possibly be seen from Monday evening.
Whereas the precise areas for potential visibility are unknown, consultants consider the comet, which might shine as vivid as Venus, could also be finest noticed from the southern hemisphere.
The comet was noticed final yr by Nasa’s Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Final Alert System.
Dr Shyam Balaji, researcher in astroparticle physics and cosmology at King’s School London, mentioned “present orbital calculations point out it should move about 8.3 million miles from the Solar”, which classifies it as a “sun-skirting” comet.
The college described the comet as a once-in-160,000-years occasion.
Dr Balaji mentioned alternatives to identify the comet could happen “within the days round perihelion, relying on native circumstances and the comet’s behaviour”.
“As with all comets, its visibility and brightness might be unpredictable,” he added.
Mr Balaji mentioned individuals who stay within the southern hemisphere – the place the comet is predicted to be finest noticed from – ought to “look towards the japanese horizon earlier than dawn, [and] after perihelion, strive the western horizon after sundown.”
However Mr Balaji added that whereas it’s anticipated to be “fairly vivid”, predictions on comet brightness are “notoriously unsure”, with many ending up fainter than initially predicted.
For the northern hemisphere – together with the UK – viewing could also be difficult do to the comet’s relativity to the Solar.
You’ll be able to examine with PJ Weather online to see if the skies are clear sufficient for a potential sighting the place you might be.
Mr Balaji suggested folks wanting to identify the comet to discover a location away from mild air pollution and use a pair of binoculars or a small telescope.
He warned observers to be cautious round dawn and sundown, and mentioned to trace the comet’s place to search out the place it might seem within the sky.
In the meantime, astronomers have been following the comet’s path.
On Saturday, Nasa astronaut Don Pettit, shared {a photograph} on social media of the comet taken from the Worldwide Area Station.
“It’s completely wonderful to see a comet from orbit. Atlas C2024-G3 is paying us a go to,” he wrote.
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, 2025-01-13 19:09:00
