Space

Wow! Another one! Big new sungrazer comet could get SUPER-bright

Sungrazer comet: White comet with long tail in a starry sky.
There’s a brand new comet in the sky! No, not Comet C/2023 A3 Tsuchinshan-ATLAS. And like the incredibly bright Comet Ikeya–Seki (above) in 1965, the new one is what’s called a sungrazer comet. How bright will the comet – C/2024 S1 (ATLAS) – get? Image via NASA/ Wikimedia Commons (public domain).

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Big new sungrazer comet

Heads up, comet-watchers! The ATLAS survey in Hawaii has discovered another new comet that could become bright in Earth’s skies. The discovery date is September 27, 2024. It was first given the designation of A11bP7I, but now it’s officially C/2024 S1 (ATLAS). Predictions for the comet have it reaching as bright as magnitude -5 to -7 when it comes closest to the sun, at perihelion, on October 28. Those ranges would make the comet even brighter than the brightest planet, Venus. It might even be visible in the daytime sky. However, keep in mind that comets are notoriously unpredictable.

The Southern Hemisphere will have the best view before perihelion. After its close encounter with the sun (if it survives!) it could put on a fantastic show for the Northern Hemisphere in the morning skies. It would definitely be something to wake up early for.

In the meantime, don’t forget the other comet in Earth’s skies right now. C/2023 A3 Tsuchinshan-ATLAS will be visible in the morning sky in the east through October 2. Afterwards, it’ll reappear on the other side of the sun in the evening sky after about October 12.

A Kreutz sungrazer

The new sungrazing comet is part of the Kreutz sungrazers. These are comets that come perilously close to the sun, where they can disintegrate or, if we’re lucky, become fantastically bright. Many of the comets through history that have been given the name “Great” (for example the Great Comet of 1882, the Great Comet of 1106 and the Great Comet of 371 BCE) were all Kreutz sungrazers. More recently, Comet Ikeya–Seki in 1965 was a Kreutz sungrazer that became as bright as magnitude -11. That’s as bright as a first quarter moon.

Scientists believe Kreutz sungrazers all come from a big comet that broke up a couple of millennia ago. Most Kreutz sungrazers are small fragments, but this one may be larger than most.

Will it become as bright as Ikeya-Seki? Not likely. The new comet is about 1 astronomical unit (AU) from the sun now. And it’s about 4 to 5 magnitudes dimmer than Ikeya-Seki was at that distance. The comet is currently around magnitude 15.

But expectations for this comet are still high. Check back for updates, and keep an eye out in late October and early November for this comet! If you get great images, submit them to us! We’d love to see them.

Side by side of light streaks on a dark background with a blurry spot at center.
View at EarthSky Community Photos. | Filipp Romanov used the iTelescope at the Siding Spring Observatory in Australia to capture the new comet. Thank you, Filipp!

Bottom line: A big new sungrazing comet could get really bright – and even be visible in daylight – in late October and early November.

Via Spaceweather

Via Starwalk

Posted 
September 30, 2024
 in 
Space

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