Recently Discovered 'Leonard' Comet Is Heading Earth's Way After 70,000 Years

Rejoice, Earthlings! We have a cosmic visitor hurling Earth's way. The object in question is a comet that was discovered only this year and the upcoming visit is going to be its first close brush with Earth in about 70,000 years.

Discovered by Gregory J. Leonard from the University of Arizona at the Mount Lemmon Observatory, the comet is named C/2021 A1 Leonard.

iStock

When is the comet coming?

Current estimates indicate that the comet would be passing by Earth in December, being visible to the naked eye in many places. (Sorry Delhiites, y'all are lucky to even see a single star in this pollution.)

New Scientist

Most probably, the comet would be visible to the naked eye sometime between between December 10 and December 16. Peak visibility is expected to happen on December 13. If you're in the northern hemisphere, you will see the comet before those in the southern hemisphere.

Also read:?Largest Comet Ever Discovered Is Returning To Solar System After 3.5 Million Years

The comet's rare appearance to Earthlings is owing to its elliptical orbit. Nobody who is alive on Earth right now would get a chance to see the comet ever again, for once it enters the inner solar system, the sun's gravity will fling it back into deep space, where it'll most likely stay for a long, long time - a few tens of thousands of years, give or take.

The comet is getting brighter

In conversation with Sky at Night, a comet enthusiast Jose J. Chambo claimed that the comet's brightness had seen a "dramatic" increase in just a couple of weeks in October, implying it is hurling towards the inner system at fast speeds.

Spaceweather.com/Paul Martini

Lucky for us, the comet is expected to pass by Earth without no danger to our planet. Even if it were heading straight towards Earth, there's not much we would have been able to do.

Also read:?Newly Found Comet ‘Leonard’ Will Flyby Earth In 2021, Could Be Brightest Ever

Are you going to observe this comet when it flies past Earth? Don't forget to mark your calendars, and share what you think with us in the comments below. For more in the world of tech and science, keep reading Indiatimes.com.

Citation

Connor, J. (2021, November 30). Comet to approach Earth very soon, first visit for about 70,000 years. TweakTown.?

Browne, E. (2021, November 29). Watch This Icy Comet Pass Earth for the First Time in Thousands of Years. Newsweek.?