A newly discovered comet is coming close to Earth: the celestial body will probably shine so brightly in October 2024 that it can be seen with the naked eye.
Munich – It's not the first time it's flying towards Earth: an extremely bright comet is said to be approaching our planet, as it did 80,000 years ago.
Astronomers have calculated the celestial body's trajectory, data from the International Astronomical Union's Minor Planet Center suggests.
However, it is unclear whether this will actually happen: the behavior of comets is hardly predictable.
Comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan ATLAS) path for 2024 ☄️
Learn more about the comet: https://t.co/yk4N6TNXyX pic.twitter.com/E7DEghc9UM
— Star Walk (@StarWalk) March 10, 2023
Shooting Stars: Please vote.
How bright will the comet "Tsuchinshan-ATLAS" be?
Does he shine like Venus?
The comet is named C/2023 A3 (or Tsuchinshan ATLAS, after its place of discovery) and is traveling towards us at about 290 kilometers per hour.
The comet will come closest to our earth in October 2024, but a collision is not predicted.
He probably flies past us at a distance of 70.5 million kilometers.
But it should still be light due to Tsuchinshan-ATLAS.
For comparison, Comet ZTF, also a very bright celestial body, flew by Earth recently, and Tsuchinshan ATLAS is said to be about 100 times brighter,
Business Insider
writes .
It will radiate something like the planet Venus.
So it could be visible to the naked eye.
Surname: | C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan ATLAS) |
Type: | long-period comet |
Discovery: | January 9, 2023, ATLAS telescope in South Africa |
closest approach to the sun (perihelion): | September 28, 2024 |
shortest distance to the sun: | 58 million kilometers |
Closest Approach to Earth: | October 13, 2024 |
shortest distance to earth: | 70.5 million kilometers |
+
Comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF) can be seen in the night sky in January and February 2023.
Tsuchinshan-ATLAS could shine much brighter again.
© IMAGO/La Nacion/ZUMA Press/Tizoc Suarez
However, it is not yet certain that the Tsuchinshan ATLAS is actually as close to the earth as calculated.
There are still a number of obstacles ahead of him on his long journey.
For example, the comet - a ball of gas, ice and dust - has to survive the flight next to our sun.
According to the calculations, this should happen, because Tsuchinshan-ATLAS is large enough and should pass our fixed star at a sufficient distance, more precisely 57 million kilometers away.
According to Space.com,
it won't be until July 2024 that we can better assess whether Tsuchinshan-ATLAS really promises a big light show.
(cgsc)
List of rubrics: © IMAGO/Kyodo News