January, 14, 2025-03:40
Share: Facebook | Twitter | Whatsapp | Linkedin | Visits: 37568 | :2821
A once-in-a-lifetime comet is set to become visible for the first time in 160,000 years - and you don't want to miss it:
If you enjoy observing the night sky, be sure to look up this evening. A rare comet, visible for the first time in 160,000 years, is making its appearance, and it’s an event you won’t want to overlook.
Named C/2024 G3 (ATLAS), this comet was identified by the ATLAS survey system and has been gradually moving toward the inner solar system. Current projections suggest it will reach its closest point to the sun today, approximately 8.3 million miles away. While this distance may seem significant, it is relatively close, leading astronomers to refer to it as a 'sun-skirter.'
Dr. Shyam Balaji, a researcher specializing in Astro particle physics and cosmology at King’s College London, noted, "The comet is anticipated to reach its closest approach to the Sun, known as perihelion, around January 13, 2025."However, as is the case with all comets, its visibility and brightness can be quite unpredictable.
"Observers may have chances to see it in the days surrounding perihelion, depending on local conditions and the comet's activity."
Comets are composed of dust, rock, and ice, varying in size from a few miles to several tens of miles in diameter. As they approach the Sun, they heat up, releasing gases and dust that form a glowing head, sometimes larger than a planet.
This material creates a tail that can extend millions of miles, making them a spectacular sight in the night sky.
NASA estimates that billions of comets orbit the Sun within the Kuiper Belt, a region that includes Pluto, as well as the more distant Oort Cloud.
As Comet C/2024 G3 passes by, its brightness will be affected by its distance from the sun, according to Dr. Balaji.
"This causes ice and frozen gases to sublimate, forming a coma and possibly a tail," she explained. "While some forecasts indicate it could shine brightly, predicting comet brightness is notoriously challenging.
"Many comets ultimately turn out to be dimmer than initially anticipated."