Comet observation: Seeing the comet Leonard in the starry sky – it is always a fascinating thing when space sends us visitors. Regardless of whether it is meteorites or comets. Just before Christmas, we received another visible arrival of the comet Leonard, which can be seen in the starry sky.
But not only through a telescope, the comet Leonard (C / 2021 A1) can be seen with the naked eye. Earlier this year, scientist Gregory discovered the comet in a laboratory in Mount Lemon, Arizona. Leonard was the first comet to be discovered in 2021 under the name C / 2021, hence the abbreviation A1.
Visible in the first twelve days of December
It is currently orbiting the sun and will be closest to Earth in December. On December 12, 2021, Leonard reached the nearest 35 million kilometers to Earth. It seems like a considerable distance, but astronomically it is not very far.
At least the comet is very close to our planet, you can notice it. By the way, with the telescope before December 12th. Because the Leonard comet is visible in the sky across the Northern Hemisphere during the first twelve days of December. And always in the early morning in the southeastern sky shortly before sunrise or after sunset.
The next comet is in a corner
Leonard last came very close to us 35,000 years ago. However, it may now be his last visit to our solar system. This is because, according to NASA, there is a risk that large ice sheets will be thrown from our solar system into the depths of space in the future.
But the next comet is already in the initial modes to observe the sky. Because in early May 2022, icy Panstarrs C / 2021 O3 may appear in the galaxy. But only if the sun has not already dissolved it.
They are: wetter.de
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