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Comet is heading straight for Earth - “UN271” is 150 kilometers in diameter

2021-11-25T10:53:28.880Z


Comet 2014 UN271 with an unbelievable diameter of 150 kilometers flies towards Earth. Scientists only discovered the mega-astronomical boulder by chance.


Comet 2014 UN271 with an unbelievable diameter of 150 kilometers flies towards Earth.

Scientists only discovered the mega-astronomical boulder by chance.

Philadelphia - It was essentially a coincidence that American scientists Pedro Bernardinelli and Gary Bernstein made an incredible discovery.

Instead of objects whose orbits extend beyond Neptune's orbit, they found a “mega-comet”.

The comet was first discovered between 2014 and 2018 as part of the “Dark Energy Survex” project.

Since then, this amazing celestial body has kept astronomy * in suspense.

In the next ten years, the comet could come astonishingly close to Earth, as reported by 24hamburg.de *.

Is there any danger?

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Comet is racing straight towards earth: 2014 UN271 is 150 kilometers in diameter

When Bernadinelli and Bernstein made the incredible discovery of the “mega-comet” in June 2021, their fascination was enormous.

The celestial body named 2014 UN271 is looking for its equal with a diameter of up to 150 kilometers - and represents a true mystery in space. That the "mega-comet" enjoys absolute priority among scientists who are very concerned about an asteroid simulation, is no accident.

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In January 2031, the “mega comet” will come closer to earth than ever before.

(Symbol photo)

© Picture Alliance / dpa

As the research results published in the specialist magazine “New Scientists” suggest, the discovered comet could be the largest object that our solar system has ever encountered.

It is not the first time that the “mega-comet” has haunted the solar system.

According to researchers at the University of Pennsylvania, the celestial body directed its orbit towards the solar system around 3.5 million years ago.

Now he is approaching the earth again - and is getting closer to it than ever before.

“Mega comet” surprises the researchers: 2014 UN271 a thousand times larger than a normal comet

In just under ten years, the comet will be closest to the earth and sun *. The fact that the celestial body comes around twice as close as it did during its first close flight past the earth proves once again that Bernardinelli and Bernstein are on the trail of a historical phenomenon. During their explorations, the comet made the 800 other celestial bodies in space * fade. According to the latest calculations, its diameter should be around 150 kilometers. An unbelievable size that makes it appear tiny in comparison to other comets. After all, the 2014 celestial body UN271 is a thousand times larger than a typical comet.

When the “mega-comet” is at its densest in January 2031, it doesn't take much for amateur astronomers to experience the astronomical spectacle.

As with the asteroid, which approaches Earth at a speed of 94,000 km / h *, a small telescope is all that is needed to make comet 2014 UN271 visible to amateurs.

One can only hope that, as was the case with the impressive falling meteor shower that occurred in August 2021 *, the night sky will also remain cloud-free in January 2031.

“Mega Comet” will come closer to Earth in January 2031 than ever before - is there any danger?

Whether among amateur astronomers or scientists: One question remains: How dangerous is the arrival of the “mega-comet” in the solar system for the earth?

While the risk of a potential impact by the asteroid Apophis is averted according to the latest calculation *, the research at Comet 2014 UN271 is uncertain: "It is usually a hopeless endeavor to speculate about the future behavior of comets," it says from the Circles of researchers.

Because like asteroid Apophis, they often change their trajectory.

* 24hamburg.de is an offer from IPPEN.MEDIA.

List of rubric lists: © Picture Alliance / dpa

Source: merkur

All news articles on 2021-11-25

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