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Throughout the first one-half of October , a super bright comet , know as Tsuchinshan – ATLAS , will be visible to the naked eye in parts of the recent night and other morning sky as it make itsclosest approach to Earth for more than 80,000 yr .
However , it turns out that the " once - in - a - life " comet is not the only visitant in town . uranologist have just unwrap a 2nd comet , C/2024 S1 ( ATLAS ) , which will also make its near approach to our satellite this month and potentially be visible without a telescope .
Comet Tsuchinshan–ATLAS has been shining in the night sky over the last few weeks. This photo taken from the International Space Station (ISS) shows the comet hanging above our planet’s glowing atmosphere.
Over the last few weeks , skywatchers have been obsessed with Tsuchinshan – ATLAS , which wasfirst discovered in former 2023 . The comet was previouslypredicted to break aside on its approach to Earthbut has stick around entire and will make its near glide slope to our satellite on Saturday ( Oct. 12 ) . It canbe spotted with the naked eyeand has been captured in severalstunning photographsbut will belike bulge out to slice from view in the coming weeks .
But on Sept. 27 , uranologist at Hawaii ’s Asteroid Terrestrial - wallop Last Alert System ( ATLAS ) task , which played a theatrical role in find Tsuchinshan – ATLAS , spotted C/2024 S1 for the first time . The newfound comet was initially designated " A11bP7I " but after come after - up observations confirmed its existence , it was grant its prescribed new title , harmonize to theVirtual Telescope Project .
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C/2024 S1 will reach its nearest point to Earth on Oct. 24 before making a super close slingshot around the sun four days later.
Not much is know about the C/2024 S1 ’s size , configuration or field around the sun . However , it likely come from the Oort Cloud — a large reservoir of comets and other icy objectsnear the solar scheme ’s edge — and in all likelihood has n’t been this tight to the Lord’s Day for 100 .
The newfound comet will make its closest approach path to Earth on Oct. 24 , when it will come within 81.8 million miles ( 131.6 million km ) of our planet . Four days later , on Oct. 28 , it will reach its close point to the sun , or perihelion , when it will skim past our household star at a distance of around 765,000 miles ( 1.2 million km ) .
C/2024 S1 is what uranologist call a " sungrazer " comet because it will get extremely unaired to our place star . If it survive its close shaving with the sun , the comet will be sling back out toward the outersolar system . However , the betting odds of the comet live this superheated slingshot are unsettled .
A sungrazer comet was discovered making its final approach to the sun during the total solar eclipse on April 8. It was destroyed by the close encounter hours later.
On April 8 , uranologist spotted another sungazing comet make its final feeler to the sunon the same twenty-four hour period as the full solar eclipse , which vagabond a apparition over large parts of North America . However , it disintegrate just a few hour afterwards .
Initial photograph of C/2024 S1 also hint that it has a greenish lambency , which is a rare people of color for comets , Spaceweather.com reported . This unusual chromaticity , like to the " devil comet"(12P / Pons - Brooks ) thatpassed tight by our planet in March , come from dicarbon molecules — two atomic number 6 molecules attach together — in the comet ’s coma and tail .
How to see C/2024 S1
At its peak brightness , between Oct. 24 and Oct. 28 , the comet will be bright than Venus and most other object in the night sky , Forbes report . However , it will only really be visible just before sunrise in the Southern Hemisphere .
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C/2024 S1 could still be seeable from the Northern Hemisphere between Oct. 29 and Oct. 31 , when it will be significantly dimmer , according to Forbes . But only if it survive its catapult around the Dominicus .
If the comet does last long enough for you to see it , you’re able to tag the comet ’s journey usingTheSkyLive.com . you’re able to also increase your chances of watch C/2024 S1 using a respectable yoke ofstargazing binocularsor asmall telescopeto raise the view .
