The comet is called C/2023 A3 Tsuchinshan-ATLAS, or Comet A3, and was discovered by Chinese scientists last year. It has been passing the Sun for a few weeks now and has recently been visible in the Southern Hemisphere.
On Saturday evening, it will be the closest to the earth and will then be visible here in Sweden.
When it was seen in the southern starry sky, it has been seen with the naked eye, but Peter Linde, associate professor of astronomy at Lund University and chairman of the Astronomical Society of Sweden, still skeptical about how easy it will be. be seen
The comet is close to the sun and in danger of being drowned in the light from sunset, and it will also disappear below the horizon already at 7pm.
– Comets are very rare that can be seen with the naked eye. I myself have seen three or four, says Pádraig Linde.
So you can see the comet
For those who want to try to see the comet, according to Peter Linde, it is important to be ready at sunset. The comet will then be visible near the western horizon before it passes.
– It is a good idea to keep an eye tonight and maybe four or five nights ahead, says Pádraig Linde.
He also says it’s best to bring out binoculars just in case.
In the coming days, the comet will rise a little higher in the sky and then it will be visible a little further into the night, but at the same time it will shine more thinly.
According to Therese Fougman at SMHI, clouds are expected on Saturday night, but it should be between thicker and thinner clouds, so if you’re lucky it may light up just as the comet will be visible.
Comet A3 is about three kilometers in diameter and its tail is tens of thousands of kilometers long.
The next time it is expected to pass the Earth is in 80,000 years.
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2024-10-12 12:31:00
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