Huge new sungrazer comet
Heads up, comet-watchers! The ATLAS survey in Hawaii has found one other new comet that would develop into shiny in Earth’s skies. The invention date is September 27, 2024. The comet is so new it’s nonetheless ready for its identify. However for now it has the designation of A11bP7I. Predictions for the comet have it reaching as shiny as magnitude -5 to -7 when it comes closest to the solar, at perihelion, on October 28. These ranges would make the comet even brighter than the brightest planet, Venus. It would even be seen within the daytime sky. Nevertheless, remember the fact that comets are notoriously unpredictable.
The Southern Hemisphere can have one of the best view earlier than perihelion. After its shut encounter with the solar (if it survives!) it may placed on a unbelievable present for the Northern Hemisphere within the morning skies. It might undoubtedly be one thing to get up early for.
Within the meantime, don’t overlook the opposite comet in Earth’s skies proper now. C/2023 A3 Tsuchinshan-ATLAS can be seen within the morning sky within the east by means of October 2. Afterwards, it’ll reappear on the opposite aspect of the solar within the night sky after about October 12.
A BIG NEW SUNGRAZING COMET: At the moment, many astronomers are excited a few new comet found just some days in the past by the ATLAS survey. It is so new, it does not have a reputation but, simply the provisional designation “A11bP7I.” What is the pleasure about? A11bP7I is a sungrazer… pic.twitter.com/BeGArf7Orv
— The Watchmen Earth and Area Connection (@TWESC2023) September 30, 2024
A Kreutz sungrazer
The brand new sungrazing comet is a part of the Kreutz sungrazers. These are comets that come perilously near the solar, the place they’ll disintegrate or, if we’re fortunate, develop into fantastically shiny. Most of the comets by means of historical past which were given the identify “Nice” (for instance the Nice Comet of 1882, the Nice Comet of 1106 and the Nice Comet of 371 BC) had been all Kreutz sungrazers. Extra just lately, Comet Ikeya–Seki in 1965 was a Kreutz sungrazer that grew to become as shiny as magnitude -11. That’s as shiny as a first quarter moon.
Scientists imagine Kreutz sungrazers all come from a giant comet that broke up a pair millennia in the past. Most Kreutz sungrazers are small fragments, however this one could also be bigger than most.
Will it develop into as shiny as Ikeya-Seki? Unlikely. The brand new comet is about 1 astronomical unit (AU) from the solar now. And it’s about 4 to five magnitudes dimmer than Ikeya-Seki was at that distance. The comet is at the moment round magnitude 15.
However expectations for this comet are nonetheless excessive. Test again for updates, and maintain an eye fixed out in late October and early November for this comet! Should you get nice photos, submit them to us! We’d like to see them.
On 2024-09-28 I confirmed comet A11bP7I remotely utilizing 0.43-m f/6.8 @iTelescope_Net T32 at Siding Spring Observatory, Australia. It is potential Kreutz sungrazer comet and may be shiny.
Stacked picture: shutter speeds equal to 20x30s.@Astroguyz @ThePhotoHour @El_Universo_Hoy pic.twitter.com/MVqzXMi8y8
— ?????? ???????/Filipp Romanov (@romanov_filipp) September 29, 2024
Backside line: A giant new sungrazing comet may get actually shiny – and even be seen in daylight – in late October and early November.
