Top Celestial Events 2024: Appearance of Jupiter, Giant Comet, Perseid Meteor Shower, and Komet A3 Tsuchinshan-ATLAS

Monday, 25 December 2023 – 11:05 WIB

VIVA Tekno – The year two thousand two and four will bring various amazing celestial events that can be seen directly from Earth. These natural phenomena range from stunning meteor showers to the arrival of large comets.

Most of these celestial phenomena can be observed without special equipment, but their clarity can be improved by using a telescope.

Here are four celestial events that will grace Earth’s skies in 2024, as reported Gulf News as follows:

1. Appearance of Jupiter and the Moon

The largest planet in the solar system, Jupiter, will dominate the night sky on January 18 2024. According to a National Geographic report, Jupiter will appear next to the shining moon. With binoculars, the four moons of Jupiter lined up next to it can even be observed.

2. Giant Comet

About three times the size of Mount Everest, the giant comet 12P/Pons-Brooks is currently heading towards the inner solar system. This cryovolcanic comet is mainly composed of ice, dust and gas. When it approaches the sun in March 2024, it is hoped that this comet will increase its speed due to the sun’s gravitational pull.

On April 12, 2024, it is possible that this comet will be visible to the naked eye from Earth, as it passes Jupiter. This comet is expected to appear again on April 21, 2024, when it will reach its closest point to the sun and reach peak brightness.

3. Perseid Meteor Shower

Illustration of the appearance of a meteor shower.

Every August, Earth passes through a cloud of debris released by the comet Swift-Tuttle, which is why the Perseid meteor shower occurs, which can produce up to 60 shooting stars per hour.

In 2024, it is predicted that the Perseid meteor shower will coincide with dark, moonless skies in mid-August, so conditions for viewing it in the northern hemisphere are ideal.

4. Komet A3 Tsuchinshan-ATLAS

First seen in February 2023, comet A3 Tsuchinshan-ATLAS is expected to provide a stunning view in late 2024. In September, the comet’s orbit will bring it close to the sun and Earth for the first time in 80,000 years.

Astronomers expect the light to be so bright that it can be seen with the naked eye. This comet is expected to be observable on October 12 in the Northern Hemisphere, if it survives its journey around the sun.

2023-12-25 04:05:01
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