Comet 'no-name' - a bright sungrazer?
Ok, if you've been keeping up with the astronomy news of the last few weeks you already know about comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS) (see my post of Aug 31). In mid-October it should be well placed in the western sky just after sunset for those of us in the northern hemisphere and rising higher every day afterward. Reports from folks down in NZ and Aus have indicated that it has survived the perihelion passage (Sept 27) and is putting on a great show. I'll be posting an update later this week.
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| Tsuchinshan-ATLAS - photo by Ian Griffin Mount John - Lake Tekapo South Island NZ |
But the exciting news is that the ATLAS survey in Hawaii has discovered another new comet (September 27, 2024) that could become bright in Earth’s skies. This comet is so new it’s still waiting for its name (current designation is A11bP7I). Predictions for the comet have it reaching as bright as magnitude -5 to -7 when it comes closest to the sun, at perihelion, on October 28. That would make the comet even brighter than the brightest planet, Venus. It might even be visible in the daytime sky. As with Tsuchinshan-ATLAS, this comet will first make its appearance in the southern hemisphere before making its debut in the north during the early morning hours in late October and early November. A11bP7I is part of the Kreutz sungrazers. These are comets that come perilously close to the sun, where they can disintegrate or, if we’re lucky, become fantastically bright. We'll see.
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