Preparation of the approach of comet Atlas from planet Earth • Journal of Jeddah and Al-Nas

News – Jeddah and the people:

The head of the Jeddah Astronomical Society, Engineer Majed Abu Zahra, said the attention of observers in the Arab world and around the world is directed to the newly discovered comet Atlas (C / 2020 M3) during the two weeks in preparation for its approach to our planet on November 14, 2020, where it will be at a distance of 54 million kilometers, which is sufficient opportunity to see it with the naked eye, according to initial expectations.

The Jeddah Astronomical Society added, in a statement, that since now, with early November, Comet Atlas can be easily observed through binoculars with aperture of a 60 or 70 mm lens or a small telescope, as it is located in front of the constellation of the rabbit (Rough Sight 05H 17M 03S) – (angular tilt -11 59 ° 13) near the star (Gemini man) and its apparent brightness is between (7) or (8), which means she is weak to the naked eye at the present time.

She explained that the comet will be low above the eastern horizon, to the southeast after 10:30 p.m., and that it will be observed high towards the southern horizon at 3 a.m. and will remain until the appearance of the morning light.

The latest images of the comet show that its atmosphere (wolf) is huge as wide as the moon, so the photographer will need a wide field to photograph the entire comet, and its green color is due to diatomic carbon gas (C2 ) which glows green in near space.

It is worth noting that Comet Atlas as it approaches Earth will be in front of the constellation Orion (Gemini), and we hope it breaks all expectations and becomes bright and easily visible to the naked eye.

Related topics