This webpage was generated automatically; to view the article in its original setting, you may visit the link provided below:
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2025/01/13/2025-comet-c2024-g3-atlas/77668319007/
and if you desire to have this article removed from our platform, please get in touch with us
NASA’s solar probe survives closest-ever approach to sun
On Christmas Eve, the spacecraft came within 3.8 million miles of the Sun’s surface—the nearest any spacecraft has ever been.
unbranded – Newsworthy
Avid science followers are hoping for a chance to view a comet anticipated to be the most brilliant of 2025, but they might not be fortunate depending on their geographical location.
The comet, titled C/2024 G3 or ATLAS, has the potential to be the most luminous of 2025, yet it remains premature to claim that, remarked Bill Cooke, head of NASA’s Meteoroid Environment Office.
“I can affirm that it’s certainly the brightest comet of 2025 thus far,” he expressed to USA TODAY on Monday. “Will it be the brightest comet visible in 2025? That’s still uncertain … there are still 11 months remaining.”
Here’s what you need to know regarding the comet.
Will the comet be easily observable?
Despite its potential brilliance, experts suggest that spotting the comet will be quite difficult.
“The smoke from fires and our prevailing weather conditions won’t assist,” noted Tim Brothers, Technical Instructor and Observatory Manager at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), in an email to USA TODAY on Monday.
He further warned that due to the comet’s proximity to the sun, using binoculars to view it is ill-advised.
Andrew Fazekas from Astronomers without Borders, an organization in California aiding underprivileged communities in learning about space, also advised against using binoculars for observing C/2024 G3.
“It’s a perilous endeavor as you wouldn’t want to unintentionally gaze at the sun, particularly through telescopes and binoculars,” he conveyed to USA TODAY on Wednesday. “It’s primarily suited for … more advanced amateur astronomers to attempt.”
He mentioned that even researchers he is acquainted with are facing difficulties spotting the comet.
“Given its closeness to the sun in the celestial sphere, the sun’s glare is making it exceedingly tough to locate it in the sky,” Fazekas stated.
Nonetheless, the comet is still present, orbiting the sun. In a few days, it will start drifting away from the sun, he added, noting that observers in the southern hemisphere are likely to have a superior view of it.
What exactly is a comet and why is this one so luminous?
Comets are described as “large, icy clusters of debris,” which sometimes originate from the Oort cloud, or a “repository of comets a quarter of the distance to (the sun),” according to Cooke. Occasionally, the gravitational pull of a passing star will alter the orbit of these debris clusters, sending them into the inner solar system.
Some comets have existed for thousands of years, including Comet C/2024 G3, which has already made several entries into the solar system. The last time this comet traversed the solar system was no less than 135,000 years ago, Cooke mentioned.
The comet received its designation from the system that first detected it, known as the Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System (ATLAS), as revealed by Asa Stahl, an astrophysicist and science editor at the Planetary Society.
Nikole Lewis, an Associate Professor of Astronomy at Cornell University, stated that the comet was identified most recently this past spring. Researchers utilize surveys and catalogs to monitor stars and other astronomical entities, she explained.
“We are consistently surveying the skies in our locality … searching for anything that may collide with Earth,” she stated. “We encounter various captivating items, and this is one such object that was detected in one of these surveys.”
Comets typically begin as dust, rocky matter, and ice, she noted. When they are located far from the sun, they appear fainter and hard to detect. As they approach the sun and their ice begins to vaporize, they grow brighter.
Where can I view the comet?
Your ability to see the comet is contingent on your latitude, Lewis from Cornell University indicated. There are applications available to help determine the optimal time for viewing, including a night sky webpage from Timeanddate.com.
The comet will set approximately 20 minutes after the sun on Wednesday, Cooke from NASA noted, and it will be difficult to observe the comet without specialized equipment.
“The outlook will not improve as January continues, as the comet will fade in brightness,” he communicated to USA TODAY on Monday.
According to Cooke, the comet has passedperihelion, representing an orbit’s nearest point to the sun. Since it has surpassed this point, individuals in the U.S. have a minimal likelihood of observing the comet.
According to Cooke, Australia might have a more favorable view, as the comet is expected to be visible shortly after sunset for residents there in a few days.
Individuals in the Northern Hemisphere might also have a better chance of seeing Comet C/2024 G3, particularly in the upcoming two weeks, noted Stahl from the Planetary Society on the organization’s webpage.
He mentioned that those observing from the Southern Hemisphere could likely glimpse the comet just after sunset, positioned above the horizon in the west.
“Each evening, the comet will rise higher in the night sky,” Stahl stated. “This period will provide the optimal opportunity for watchful eyes in the Southern Hemisphere to locate Comet C/2024 G3.”
Guidelines for achieving the optimal view of the comet
Additional suggestions from Stahl for observing Comet C/2024 G3 consist of:
- Seek out a more secluded area with less light pollution for viewing the comet
- Find a spot with a clear sightline to the horizon, since the comet will not be high in the sky until it dims
- Allow your eyes a few moments to acclimatize to the darkness
- If using both eyes to observe, look just above the comet. This approach enhances visibility of the details in the backdrop
Mars will appear to vanish during the space event on Monday night
For those who may overlook the comet, an exciting celestial event awaits on Monday night, according to Brothers from MIT.
A lunar occultation of Mars is set to occur. This phenomenon will cause Mars to move behind the Moon, creating the illusion that the planet has vanished, he informed USA TODAY, adding that it may be a decade before another lunar occultation involving Mars occurs.
As per NASA, individuals looking up at the night sky can likely witness the lunar occultation with the unaided eye, binoculars, or a small telescope. It is expected to last for over an hour in certain regions of the country.
Professor Robert Vanderbei, who teaches Operations Research and Financial Engineering at Princeton’s Department of Astrophysical Sciences, indicated that around 9 p.m. might be the prime time for observing the lunar occultation for some viewers.
“That’s significantly more thrilling,” he declared. “I’m eager to capture some images of that.”
NASA suggests consulting Stellarium Web or the Astronomical League’s ‘Moon Occults Mars’ chart to determine the optimal viewing time in your region.
Julia serves as a trending reporter for USA TODAY. You may connect with her via LinkedIn, follow her on X, previously known as Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok: @juliamariegz, or reach her via email at [email protected].
Saleen Martin is a journalist on USA TODAY’s NOW team. She hails from Norfolk, Virginia – the 757. Connect with her on Twitter at @SaleenMartin or get in touch via email at [email protected].
This page was generated programmatically, to read the article in its original location you can go to the link below:
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2025/01/13/2025-comet-c2024-g3-atlas/77668319007/
and if you wish to remove this article from our site please contact us
