potential 'Sun-skimming' Comet could outshine Venus, if it manages to endure the upcoming weeks
Unveiled recently, a celestial object is on a collision course with our sun, promising a dazzling display or catastrophic destruction. Known as Comet A11bP7I, it was spotted on September 27 by the Hawaii-based ATLAS (Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System). This newcomer shouldn't be mistaken for the already-famous Comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinan-Atlas), which has been captivating stargazers since its discovery in January 2023.
Comet A11bP7I belongs to a clique of comets called the Kreutz sungrazers, having an unusual affinity for encounters near the sun. According to Ariel Graykowsi, lead of Unistellar's comet campaign, these comets share orbits, and they're believed to be fragments of an ancient celestial body that shattered long ago.
Generally, sungrazing comets like Comet A11bP7I, make their ominous approach to the sun during perihelion; thus, it's named 'sungrazing.' These comets tend to be small and fragile, often meeting a fiery end or colliding with the star during their close encounters. However, some lucky comets like Lovejoy and Ikeya-Seki manage to survive, treating onlookers to a breathtaking light show.
Comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinan-Atlas), which China’s Tsuchinshan Observatory discovered in January 2023 and is now visible to the unaided eye.
Comet Lovejoy, discovered in 2011, is a testimony to such survival against the odds. Once a Kreutz sungrazer, this long-period comet made it through its perihelion and even emitted a striking blue and green glow. Fortunately, its nucleus survived for a few days after its rendezvous with the sun before completely disintegrating. Another survivor is Comet Ikeya-Seki, discovered in 1965 by Japanese amateur astronomers. This comet not only survived its face-off but reached a remarkable brightness of -11, nearly as radiant as a half-moon!
Ariel Graykowsi, elated about Comet A11bP7I, anticipates its close encounter with the sun on October 28. If it manages to survive, we might witness a magnitude of -7, dazzlingly brighter than Venus, the brightest planet in our solar system. Although precise predictions are challenging without specifics, this newcomer could potentially leave our night skies aglow with stardust.
EarthSky. Following its close encounter with the Sun, the comet has the potential to wow the northern hemisphere with one hell of a light show. “I hope it survives perihelion enough for us to see it,” Graykowsi said.
As the comet approaches perihelion, observers in the southern hemisphere might catch a glimpse of this celestial marvel, hopefully, before it either extinguishes itself or eclipses Venus. After its encounter with the sun, the comet could provide a mesmerizing display for Northern Hemisphere viewers. A spectacle worth keeping an eye out for, according to Ariel Graykowsi, who is hopeful for the comet's enduring appearance.
- The discovery of Comet A11bP7I by the ATLAS system in Hawaii has sparked interest in the scientific community, as this Kreutz sungrazer is on a path towards a close encounter with our sun.
- Regarding the upcoming encounter, Ariel Graykowsi expresses optimism, predicting that if Comet A11bP7I survives, it could reach a brightness of -7, outshining Venus, the brightest planet in our solar system.
- To learn more about Comet A11bP7I, one can visit the EarthSky website, which provides updates and insights into this celestial object and its potential impact on our night skies.
- For those interested in astronomy and the study of comets, the anticipated collision course of Comet A11bP7I with the sun offers a unique opportunity to observe the fusion of technology and space, as scientists and stargazers alike eagerly await the comet's future performance.