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Sky's observers have a lot to look forward to in December, as another bright comet is expected for a – and perfectly safe – encounter with Earth, reports Space.
Just days after the peak of meteor showers on December 13, observers will have the opportunity to see Comet 46P / Wirtanen – the brightest comet to light up the sky in 2018 Comet Watch.
Discovered for the first time 70 years ago from the Lick Observatory in California, Comet 46P goes through our planet once every 5.4 years. But this year's flyby promises to be particularly memorable. Here's why.
Four reasons not to miss Comet 46P
- Very close approach
The rock of space will approach our planet in 2018, less than 11 million kilometers (11.5 million kilometers) from the Earth, about 30 times the distance between the Earth and the Moon. EarthSky.
Judging by the standards of comets, this meeting is particularly close. In comparison, comet 21P / Giacobini-Zinner – which is about to make a major entry on September 10, Inquisitr recently reported – will rise to five times the distance, approaching 58.4 million kilometers (36.4 million kilometers) from Earth.
See two bright green comets in the night sky of 2018: how, where and when to watch https://t.co/4bgoOifaY4 @SPACEdotcom @HannekeScience #space #astronomy pic.twitter.com/HxyTPdMg6r
– Martian newspapers (@martiandiaries) September 8, 2018
Meanwhile, the green comet "Incredible Hulk" that crossed the sky on August 7, reported by the Inquisitr, have come only 70 million miles (113.4 million kilometers) from our planet – 10 times farther than comet 46P in December.
In fact, it's the closest approach to the comet for a long time. The last time comet 46P approached Earth, it was in 2013, but this visit only brought him 904 million kilometers from our planet.
This year's close approach will take place on December 16, four days after the comet reaches perihelion, or the closest orbital point to the sun.
The video below, uploaded to YouTube by Comet Watch, detail the trajectory of the comet when it enters our solar system.
- The brightest comet of the year
Another interesting thing about Comet 46P is that it's what astronomers call an overactive comet. Although relatively small and only 1.2 kilometers in diameter, this comet will be surprisingly bright in December.
This is because "46P / Wirtanen belongs to a small family of comets whose activity level is higher than expected", explains Comet Watch. These comets "emit more water vapor than they should", making them much brighter than other comets of the same size.
This year, Comet 46P is expected to reach a visual magnitude of 3 – the highest in its history.
"This is the brightest prediction of the known and future passages of this comet. This is also currently the brightest prediction for all comet passages in 2018, "states Comet Watch.
Comet Double Whammy: Pictures of 21P / Giacobini-Zinner and 46P / Wirtanen by Stargazers https://t.co/248gbip7Gl pic.twitter.com/3I86MnmV0I
– Emme13 (@ emme13astro) September 9, 2018
- Visible to the naked eye
During a given year, comet 46P is usually only spotted with the help of telescopes or binoculars. This year, however, star observers should have a glimpse of the comet at the naked eye.
Thanks to its luminosity and proximity to our planet, Comet 46P is likely to be visible to the naked eye on the day of its closest approach to the Earth.
As FiOS 1 News Meteorologist Joe Rao points out that comet 46P will become "about as bright as the weakest star in the Big Dipper", an asterism in the constellation Ursa Major (the "Big Bear").
"So, if you know where to look in the sky, it will be against the winter constellations of Taurus (" The Bull "), near the Pleiades and Hyades star clusters," Rao explains.
- Great conditions of observation
In addition to being a meeting very close to the possible brilliance of the naked eyes, the December event should also offer excellent listening conditions around the world.
According to astronomers at the University of Maryland, the Comet 46P will be visible to sky observers in the northern and southern hemisphere and will glow most of the night.
The comet will remain visible for several hours after December 16, although its glow disappears from the Earth. As of February 3, 2019, its brightness will decrease to a magnitude of 8, according to the Comet Watch video.
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