Do n’t scratch your eyes — this yr ’s undimmed comet may already be headed our direction .
The objective is show Comet C/2024 G3 ( ATLAS ) , as it was first reported by theAsteroid Terrestrial - encroachment Last Alert System ( ATLAS)telescope in Chile . Do n’t let the name of the telescope concern you — the comet will pass by Earth , not impact it — but that ’s only if the comet manages to survive a near laissez passer of the Sun on Monday , January 13 .
Comets are conglomerations of dust and ice that emit ethereal seat as they near the Sun , whoseheat causesthe object to discharge gasolene and rubble . That same thing that give comet their preternatural beauty , however , can do their downfall ; the Sun ’s terrific heat causes some comets todisintegrate into oblivionbefore they have a chance to put on a show .
Some people have seen Comet A3 with an anti-tail in front, much like the one seen in this 2023 image of Comet C2022 E3 (ZTF).© Kết Nối Việt Nam via Flickr
The question on everyone ’s judgement with Comet C/2024 G3 ( ATLAS ) is , will it hold up the journey — and if it does , how brightly will its transit be ?
In its near pass of the Sun , C/2024 G3 ( ATLAS ) will come up within 8.3 million miles ( 13.5 million kilometers ) of the star , accord toEarthSky . Comet C/2024 G3 ( ATLAS ) ispredictedto reach amagnitudeof -5.8 at its nearest approach , making it bright than any whizz in the night sky besides our Sun ( which has a whopping visual magnitude of -26.74 ) .
The comet is not to be confused withC/2023 A3 ( Tsuchinshan - ATLAS ) , by the way , which wowed Earth - based beholder when it pass by last year . As it passed , C/2023 A3 ( Tsuchinshan - ATLAS)grew an anti - tail , a rare feature triggered by the position of the comet and its trajectory in relation to Earth .
accord to EarthSky , southern percipient will have the best chance of blob the newfangled Comet ATLAS . For folks in the Southern Hemisphere , looking in the vicinity of the Sun just after sundown is your good stakes , as the comet will become fainter as it rises in the Nox sky . The comet will be in the Sun ’s glare during its perihelion , so you ’re more potential to see the comet once it puts some aloofness between itself and our innkeeper virtuoso — try after January 16 or so . That said , the comet will be unmanageable to spot from the Northern Hemisphere due to its proximity to the Sun and low position in the sky during its brightest phase , accordingto Sky & Telescope .
Comet C/2024 G3 ( ATLAS ) is a sunskirter , think of that , despite its brightness , it will remain very close to the Sun — making its visibility in the Nox sky an transient affair . Even when the comet ’s head is no longer seeable , its rear can still be see if it ’s long enough . The jury ’s out on how the comet ’s beauty will heap up toothers this yr , but we ’ll have to wait a workweek to see where it abide .
Amateur astronomyastrophotographycometsStargazing
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