A rare, newly discovered comet will be visible in the night sky this summer.
Comet E1 Atlas is expected to be visible in the night sky in July for Northern Hemisphere skywatchers. It will be located high in the skies near the constellation Ursa Minor, the Little Dipper.
It’s currently 1,010 million miles from Earth – equivalent to more than 384 times the average distance between us and the Moon.
The comet reaches perihelion, its closest point to the Sun, on Saturday, July 1. At that time, it will be about 956 million miles from the Sun and 1030 million miles from Earth.
In astronomy terms, it is expected to reach a maximum brightness of magnitude +8 or +9, which means it will be visible with binoculars and most medium-sized telescopes, around July 17.
Comet E1 Atlas was a recent discovery, spotted on 1 March, 2023, by the Atlas (Asteroid Terrestrial-Impact Last Alert System) project, a robotic telescope network operated by the University of Hawaii. The comet was first detected as a faint object in the constellation Virgo.
The Atlas project is designed to detect near-Earth objects (NEOs) and comets that pose a potential threat to Earth. The project has been successful in discovering a number of NEOs, including comet E1 Atlas.
While it’s not the easiest to spot keen astrophotographers have managed to capture some glimpses of it for our viewing pleasure.
How to see the comet
You will need a telescope or binoculars to see comet Atlas as it is too faint to be seen with the naked eye.
Your best bet is to find a dark location with a clear view of the north sky. The best time to view the comet will be after sunset, when the sky is dark enough to see it.
You can use a star chart or apps like SkyView, Stellarium, and Google Sky Map to find the comet. It will appear as a hazy, greenish smudge near the Little Dipper.
Here are some tips for viewing comet E1 Atlas:
- Find a dark location with a clear view of the north sky.
- Look for the comet after sunset, when the sky is dark enough to see it.
- Use a star chart or app to help you find the comet.
- The comet will appear as a hazy, greenish smudge near the Little Dipper.
- You may need binoculars or a telescope to see the comet.
The comet will be visible in the night sky through July and August. It is expected to fade as it moves away from the Sun, so it is best to view it early in the month.
Comet E1 Atlas has an orbital period of 85 years, so this will likely be your only chance to see it.
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