In October, it will be possible to see with the naked eye a comet that was only visible to humans in the Stone Age.
Comet C/2023 A3, discovered early last year, will pass as close as possible to Earth on October 13. It is expected to be bright enough to be seen with the naked eye. The last time ancient humans had such an opportunity was 80,000 years ago. At the end of September, comet C/2023 A3 made its closest approach to the Sun, and astronauts aboard the International Space Station as well as amateur astronomers managed to capture its passage through the inner solar system, The Guardian writes.
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The comet, last seen by ancient humans in the Stone Age 80 thousand years ago, will be visible again in the night sky from October 13. On this day, Comet C/2023 A3 will be at its closest distance to Earth. Astronomers believe the comet will be so bright that it will be visible even to the naked eye.
According to astronomer Gregory Brown of the Royal Observatory Greenwich (UK), comet C/2023 A3 completes a full revolution around the Sun in 80,000 years. However, this icy object was discovered only at the beginning of 2023. The comet has a highly elliptical orbit and originates from the Oort Cloud, which surrounds the Solar System and is home to thousands of long-period comets. The Oort Cloud is believed to be a type of sphere containing icy debris from the formation of the Solar System.
At the end of September, Comet C/2023 A3 made a close pass of the Sun, managed to survive the event (sometimes comets break apart due to the influence of solar heat) and is now heading towards Earth.
The comet is expected to be at its closest point to our planet when it returns to the outskirts of the solar system on October 13. Comet C/2023 A3’s approach to Earth could occur as early as October 9.
The comet should be bright enough to be visible to the naked eye, Brown said. Although it is best to observe the comet within a few days or a few days after its closest approach to Earth. The astronomer explains that in this case, it is possible to better observe the icy object from deep space.
Brown says Comet C/2023 A3 may be the brightest comet in the night sky for decades. The astronomer says the comet is already very bright and may become even brighter, but this is difficult to predict.
The comet was already visible in Earth’s sky as it approached the Sun, and amateur astronomers as well as astronauts aboard the International Space Station not only saw it, but also took stunning photographs of the bright object.
Starting on October 13, and possibly for a week or more, the comet will be visible in the late evening, after sunset, looking west toward the constellation Bootes, according to Brown.
Most likely the comet will be visible to the naked eye as a bright spot in the sky, but the comet’s tail will only be visible through binoculars or a telescope.
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Source: Focus
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