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Wow! Another one! Big new sungrazer comet could get SUPER-bright -From Earthsky.org

By Andee Sherwood posted 10-01-2024 15:09

  

There’s a brand new comet in the sky! No, not Comet C/2023 A3 Tsuchinshan-ATLAS. And like the incredibly bright Comet Ikeya–Seki (above) in 1965, the new one is what’s called a sungrazer comet. How bright will it get? Image via NASA/ Wikimedia Commons (public domain).

Big new sungrazer comet

Heads up, comet-watchers! The ATLAS survey in Hawaii has discovered another new comet that could become bright in Earth’s skies. The discovery date is September 27, 2024. The comet is so new it’s still waiting for its name. But for now it has the designation of 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. Those ranges would make the comet even brighter than the brightest planet, Venus. It might even be visible in the daytime sky. However, keep in mind that comets are notoriously unpredictable.

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The content above is from Earthsky.org. You can read the full articles here:

https://earthsky.org/space/sungrazer-comet-bright-daytime-a11bp7i/


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10-03-2024 10:12

This comet is definitively worth paying attention to. Hopefully it will brighten enough to put on a show.  And to be honest its fun to have two comets in the news.