All through the primary half of October, a brilliant brilliant comet, referred to as Tsuchinshan–ATLAS, shall be seen to the bare eye in components of the late night time and early morning sky because it makes its closest strategy to Earth for greater than 80,000 years.
Nonetheless, it seems that the “once-in-a-lifetime” comet is just not the one customer on the town. Astronomers have simply found a second comet, C/2024 S1 (ATLAS), which may also make its closest strategy to our planet this month and doubtlessly be seen with out a telescope.
Over the previous few weeks, skywatchers have been obsessive about Tsuchinshan–ATLAS, which was first found in early 2023. The comet was beforehand predicted to interrupt aside on its strategy to Earth however has stayed intact and can make its closest strategy to our planet on Saturday (Oct. 12). It may possibly be noticed with the bare eye and has been captured in a number of gorgeous pictures however will possible begin to fade from view within the coming weeks.
However on Sept. 27, astronomers at Hawaii’s Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Final Alert System (ATLAS) mission, which performed a job in discovering Tsuchinshan–ATLAS, noticed C/2024 S1 for the primary time. The newfound comet was initially designated “A11bP7I” however after follow-up observations confirmed its existence, it was given its official new title, in response to the Digital Telescope Mission.
Associated: The dazzling Comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS is rising within the night time sky: The best way to see it
Not a lot is understood concerning the C/2024 S1’s dimension, form or orbit across the solar. Nonetheless, it possible comes from the Oort Cloud — a big reservoir of comets and different icy objects close to the photo voltaic system’s edge — and possibly hasn’t been this near the solar for hundreds of years.
The newfound comet will make its closest strategy to Earth on Oct. 24, when it is going to come inside 81.8 million miles (131.6 million km) of our planet. 4 days later, on Oct. 28, it is going to attain its closest level to the solar, or perihelion, when it is going to skim previous our dwelling star at a distance of round 765,000 miles (1.2 million km).
C/2024 S1 is what astronomers name a “sungrazer” comet as a result of it is going to get extraordinarily near our dwelling star. If it survives its shut shave with the solar, the comet shall be catapulted again out towards the outer photo voltaic system. Nonetheless, the chances of the comet surviving this superheated slingshot are unsure.
On April 8, astronomers noticed one other sungazing comet making its remaining strategy to the solar on the identical day as the full photo voltaic eclipse, which solid a shadow over massive components of North America. Nonetheless, it disintegrated only a few hours later.
Preliminary images of C/2024 S1 additionally trace that it has a inexperienced glow, which is a uncommon shade for comets, Spaceweather.com reported. This uncommon hue, just like the “satan comet” (12P/Pons-Brooks) that handed shut by our planet in March, comes from dicarbon molecules — two carbon molecules bonded collectively — within the comet’s coma and tail.
The best way to see C/2024 S1
At its peak brightness, between Oct. 24 and Oct. 28, the comet shall be brighter than Venus and most different objects within the night time sky, Forbes reported. Nonetheless, it is going to solely actually be seen simply earlier than dawn within the Southern Hemisphere.
C/2024 S1 may nonetheless be seen from the Northern Hemisphere between Oct. 29 and Oct. 31, when it will likely be considerably dimmer, in response to Forbes. However provided that it survives its slingshot across the solar.
If the comet does final lengthy sufficient so that you can see it, you’ll be able to monitor the comet’s journey utilizing TheSkyLive.com. You too can enhance your possibilities of seeing C/2024 S1 utilizing a superb pair of stargazing binoculars or a small telescope to reinforce the view.
