- Comet Leonard will be seen after 80 thousand years
- This phenomenon can be observed from Earth on December 12
- “Leonard was discovered as a faint stain in January 2021”
Comet Leonard near Earth. If you doubt, seeing a comet pass so close to Earth is one of the most spectacular phenomena that humans can see during their existence. In this year 2021 you will be able to appreciate the beauty of a celestial body in space that will be passing quite close to the planet and everyone will be able to contemplate it.
In this month of December, a unique and cosmic event will illuminate the sky and it will be something that will never happen again. It is about the comet Leonard that will be passing in front of the Earth, better known as the ice giant, it takes approximately 80 thousand years to go around the sun, according to Infobae.
Comet Leonard will pass close to Earth
It will be next December 12 when the comet will be observed for the only time, since it will not pass through the planet again until 80,000 years from now. It is worth mentioning that this body was detected on January 3, 2021, by the astronomer Gregory J. Leonard, when he saw something strange in the telescope of the Mount Lemmon Observatory, at the University of Arizona.
After observing something strange in space and after several days analyzing this event, the experts finally knew that it was a comet that was heading towards the sun. Immediately, they cataloged them with the name of the expert who saw it in the telescope and is called C / 2021 A1 Leonard.
“It was discovered as a faint stain in January 2021”; Comet Leonard near Earth
NASA also spoke about this event: “Leonard was discovered as a faint spot in January 2021, when he was beyond Mars. But its orbit will take it close to Earth and Venus in December, before it approaches the Sun in early January 2022 ”.
“It is difficult to predict when and how bright a comet will appear, because we do not know how much dust and gas it will emit. This can vary from day to day, and it is what controls the amount of sunlight that is scattered and reflected back towards us, “NASA added in a statement on its website.
“This comet will pass at a shorter distance from Earth on December 12”; Comet Leonard near Earth
Several people have been eager to see this comet, since they assure that this December 12 will be able to be seen with the naked eye, only by turning to see the sky. It is even said that as of November 30, it can be seen without the need to use a telescope or some other instrument.
But it will be this December 12 when Leonard reaches its closest point to the planet, obtaining its maximum brightness, so it is enough to look at the sky to appreciate it. “This comet will pass at a lower distance from Earth on December 12, 2021, at 08:54 am,” NASA said.
Comet Leonard passes close to Earth every 80,000 years
“Depending on the dust and gas, the maximum modeled brightness is expected to be around December 13 or 14, 2021, approximately 1 or 2 days after passing its closest point to Earth,” explained the space agency, although they assure that it is difficult to make an exact prediction.
It is worth mentioning that the last time the comet passed near Earth was 80,000 years ago, and since that time it has been roaming the universe. Now he is about to go through what will be the first and only time that people will be able to see him.
How will it look in Mexico?
Also in Mexico people will be able to enjoy this unique event, it is advisable to go out to contemplate it around 5 in the morning before the sun rises. Apparently, there will be no need to use an instrument to see it, but they do recommend observing it with binoculars to admire its beauty in a better way.
According to the expert Joel Castro, from the Institute of Astronomy of the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), the best performances will take place in the first half of December. To observe it with the naked eye, it will be necessary to look for places with dark skies, away from the light pollution of large cities, and with a clear horizon. Otherwise, it will be more difficult to capture it, according to Infobae.
The largest comet in history
It was previously mentioned that the classified largest comet in history, almost 12 times the size of Mount Everest, is approaching Earth and is offering astronomers invaluable information about the solar system, The Sun newspaper reported in the past. Monday, October 11.
The largest comet in history, named Bernardinelli-Bernstein, was first detected seven years ago and is believed to be up to 100 miles wide, nearly 12 times the size of Mount Everest, the highest mountain on our surface. planet by having 8848 meters of altitude above sea level Filed under: Comet Leonard near Earth
It’s like a “time machine”
According to the report by The Sun, the impressive comet was detected by Pedro Bernardinelli and Gary Bernstein, astronomers from the University of Pennsylvania who gave it its name. Last month, the two published an article in which they described everything they know about the object, based on seven years of data collection and a series of sightings over the summer.
The researchers described the comet as a “time machine” containing unprecedented information about how the solar system was born and evolved. “The story that the comet tells us tells us about what existed in the solar system billions of years ago,” Pedro Bernardinelli mentioned to The Daily Beast newspaper. Filed Under: Comet Leonard Near Earth
It is 12 times the size of Everest
“We can use that to understand the things that we see today in other parts of the solar system,” he added. And what makes this comet unique is that its chemistry has not altered substantially since its formation due to its size and distance from the sun, the report explained.
“It is pristine. Not much has happened to this object since its formation in the early days of the solar system. We can think of it as a window to the past, “said researcher Pedro Bernardinelli to the aforementioned media. Filed Under: Comet Leonard Near Earth
They estimate the year in which it will enter the solar system
Bernardinelli and Bernstein shared their findings in a paper posted to The Astrophysical Journal Letters on September 23, calling it “the nearly spherical cow of comets.” So far the comet is believed to be between 100 and 100 miles wide, making it the largest in history ever witnessed by a human and about 1,000 times larger than average.
Comet Bernardinelli-Bernstein is expected to reach our inner solar system in the year 2031, when it will oscillate between Uranus and Saturn. It is so large that there was a time when it was mistaken for a dwarf planet, before scientists detected its glowing tail. Filed Under: Comet Leonard Near Earth
Will pass by
Although the largest comet in history is expected to reach the inner solar system within a decade, astronomers say it poses no threat to Earth. It is currently 29 astronomical units from us, which is about 29 times the distance between our planet and the Sun.
When it gets closer, sometime in 2031, it will take a telescope to see it. And for space buffs wishing to see a comet sooner, there is another one expected to pass Earth this Christmas: the so-called Leonard, which will be nearby on December 12. Filed Under: Comet Leonard Near Earth
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