Comet that could shine as bright as Venus set to be visible from Earth

A comet that has caught astronomers by surprise could shine as bright as Venus in the night sky as it passes Earth for days to come.

Comet C/2024 G3 (ATLAS) was spotted by NASA’s Earth Impact Alert System last April when it was more than 600 million kilometers from Earth. Astronomers initially assumed it would not survive close to its orbit the sunbut later observations suggested that the comet is taking a different route, in order to survive, and perhaps remain intact, to fly by the Earth.

This new orbit, which takes 160,000 years to go back and forth, makes the comet make its way among us. solar system in such a way as to make it visible to stargazers in the southern hemisphere. But in the last part of its journey around the sun, even people in the northern hemisphere should see it almost through binoculars.

Observations since the new orbit was suggested have shown that the comet is getting brighter than expected, which could mean it is breaking up as it moves closer to the sun. However, recent observations have shown that the brightness has persisted and increased, which would not be the case if the comet had disintegrated.

If C/2024 G3 survives, it could make for an exceptionally bright appearance in the night sky, with some astronomers predicting that its brightness will match that of Venus, making it one of the brightest. comets for decades

However, the exact brightness of the comet is uncertain. It could be far enough away to reflect sunlight and be seen clearly, or it could be washed out by sunlight, making it invisible.

Astronomers have also raised the possibility of a phenomenon called forward scattering, where the comet’s dust causes it to appear brighter than normal, but the chances are low, according to meteorologist Joe Rao. Space.com.

If the comet shines brightly, it will probably reach its maximum level as it approaches the sun. The Central Bureau of Astronomical Telegrams, which collects observations from astronomers around the world, predicts that this will happen on January 13, at 10:17 GMT, a few hours after the comet’s approach to Earth.

This gives a roughly three-day viewing window for those in the northern hemisphere hoping to see the comet, should it be bright enough, between January 12 and 14. For people in places like the US and Europe, the best time to see the comet will be half an hour before sunrise on January 12, when it should be visible through binoculars, about 5 degrees from the sun or above the horizon. There should also be a second viewing opportunity around half an hour after sunset on January 14th.