The largest comet in history is approaching Earth: will it be visible?

The Kite Bigger than you’ve ever seen before Directing Towards TerraBut at present no harm is known to occur. Thanks to two astronomers, Pedro Bernardinelli and Gary Bernstein, Victor M. of the Dark Energy Research (DES) Project. This large celestial body was identified by the Planco telescope.

Considering the enormous size of the comet, at first, experts think it is A Dwarf planet With an unusual orbit, but close observation revealed that it was one The term comet, C / 2014 is known as UN 271 (Bernardinelli-Bernstein), the details of which were first published last June.

A gigantic comet is heading towards Earth

A few months after the largest comet was identified in history, a large team of scientists coordinated by the Department of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia was able to determine Features Of this vast celestial body. Have a big comet The diameter is about 150 km, The flight distance of the crow that separates Rome from Perugia is thousands of times more impressive than that of common comet stars and 10 times longer than that of comet C / 1995 O1 (Hale-Pop), one of the most studied in history.

It was spotted when a large comet was around 29 astronomical units Away from the sun, scientists are now able to calculate the orbit of the space giant, to predict its next orbit, 2031 When it reaches a distance of about 11 astronomical units.

Even if we talk “Close range”However, these are spatial distances and therefore Earth There is no risk of injury A comet of this size would have catastrophic consequences, even harder to imagine. The size of the space giant has piqued the interest of the scientific community, which has already arranged to be ready for the most intimate moment, which can be read in its entirety. We are already talking about one Possible temporary work, Will be sent in 2028, if NASA issues its green disk.

Want to see when and how

Unfortunately, despite its enormous size, the comet It is invisible to the naked eye, Experts say, but it is important to arm yourself with at least one small one Amateur telescope And go to isolated places far away from the city and choose an area where there is no light pollution.

Anyway, there will still be plenty of time to organize The closest path Expected to Earth In about 10 years, In 2031.