Witness a Celestial Marvel: A Comet’s Once-in-a-Millennium Encounter Approaches!

A luminous comet may be observable in skies worldwide over the next few days for the first occasion in 160,000 years.

Nasa stated that forecasting the future luminosity of a comet is “notoriously difficult,” but that Comet C/2024 G3 (Atlas) could stay bright enough to be perceived by the unaided eye.

On Monday, the comet reached perihelion, the point at which it orbits closest to the Sun, affecting its apparent brightness. Experts suggest it could be visible from Monday evening.

While precise locations for potential visibility remain unclear, specialists believe that the comet, which might shine as brightly as Venus, could be best viewed from the southern hemisphere.

The comet was identified last year by Nasa’s Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System.

Dr. Shyam Balaji, an expert in astroparticle physics and cosmology at King’s College London, mentioned that “current orbital calculations show it will pass approximately 8.3 million miles from the Sun,” categorizing it as a “sun-skirting” comet.

The university characterized the comet as a once-in-160,000-years phenomenon.

Dr. Balaji noted that chances to observe the comet might arise “in the days surrounding perihelion, contingent upon local conditions and the comet’s activity”.

“As with all comets, its visibility and intensity can be unpredictable,” he added.

Mr. Balaji advised that individuals residing in the southern hemisphere – where the comet is anticipated to be most visible – should “gaze toward the eastern horizon prior to sunrise, [and] post-perihelion, look at the western horizon after sunset.”

However, Mr. Balaji cautioned that while the comet is expected to be “fairly bright,” forecasts on comet luminosity are “notoriously unreliable,” with many ultimately appearing dimmer than initially anticipated.

For those in the northern hemisphere – including the UK – observing might prove difficult due to the comet’s position in relation to the Sun.

You can verify with BBC Weather online to see if the skies are sufficiently clear for a potential sighting in your area.

Mr. Balaji recommended that those desiring to catch a glimpse of the comet should find a site away from light pollution and utilize binoculars or a small telescope.

He cautioned observers to be careful during sunrise and sunset, and suggested monitoring the comet’s trajectory to determine where it may appear in the sky.

Meanwhile, astronomers have been tracking the comet’s course.

On Saturday, Nasa astronaut Don Pettit shared an image on social media of the comet captured from the International Space Station.

“It is utterly fantastic to witness a comet from orbit. Atlas C2024-G3 is visiting us,” he remarked.