The comet has been given the cryptic name C/2022 E3, and is approaching Earth at great speed. – I tried to look for it last weekend, but was a bit unlucky with both the weather and a lot of northern lights. There was thus no success, but I will make another attempt this weekend, says leader of the Tromsø Astronomy Association, Børge Irgens. Saturday, January 21 will be the best time to see the comet. Then the night sky is darkest. The comet will be visible until February 1, but then with more light from the moon making it more difficult to detect. Long journey The comet was discovered in March last year. Then it was halfway through our solar system, passing the orbit of the planet Jupiter. NASA believes the comet originates from the Oort cloud, which is located at the outermost part of the solar system. Comets like this go in an exceptionally long orbit, which means that they are extremely rarely recorded, writes the website Physics Astronomy. Comets Comets are smaller celestial bodies that orbit the sun, but have a tail of ice and dust. A comet’s tail is formed by the solar wind flowing from the sun. Thus, the tail always points away from the sun, no matter how far away the comet is. It is not always easy to know whether a celestial body should be classified as an asteroid or a comet, but in general, asteroids contain more rock and metal, and comets have ice formed from various compounds. Comets and asteroids are remnants from the beginning of the solar system, i.e. the remains of the material from which the planets were formed. Most small celestial objects in the solar system reside in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter and in the Kuiper belt outside Saturn’s orbit. Several scientists wonder whether life on Earth arose from organic substances that came to Earth with asteroids and comets. Source: Norwegian Space Center Comets and asteroids are remnants from the beginning of the solar system, i.e. the remains of the material from which the planets were formed. A comet mainly consists of ice, which means that they get a tail that gets stronger the closer the comet is to the sun. Photo: NASA Irgens says comets in earlier times were not perceived as something positive. – This was the most spectacular thing you could see in the starry sky. Unlike other celestial bodies, comets arrived at unpredictable times. One would like to think that this was a message from the gods about bad news, says Irgens. An example of this was given about a thousand years ago, he says. – In the year 1066, Halley’s comet arrived in the inner solar system and lit up the sky. This happened half a year before William the Conqueror conquered England, which indicated bad news for the English, says Irgens. Børge Irgens is leader of the Tromsø Astronomy Club. Photo: Privat Comet tail The comet’s “tail” occurs when the comet approaches the sun. The solar radiation causes dust, gas and ice to be torn loose and creates an elongated cloud behind the comet. The green color comes from the composition of gases, which in this case is different from the most common type of comet. Comet C/2022 E3 will be closest to Earth on February 1. Although it is the brightest comet visible right now, you should have binoculars to see it. Right now it is visible in an area near the well-known constellation Karlsvogna. Comet C/2022 E3 will be here on Saturday 21 January. Until February 1, it moves upwards and to the right above the constellation Karlsvogna. Photo: Encyclopaedia Britannica / CC – If you observe a comet through binoculars or a telescope, you will see one star that is slightly more diffuse than the others. By observing it over a few hours, one can see that it moves in relation to the surrounding stars. – It gives a special feeling that this is the forerunner of the earth and all of us, emphasizes Irgens. Comet C/2022 E3 was discovered last March. By then it had reached midway into the solar system. With an orbit of 50,000 years, it is one of the rarest comets to pass the Earth. Photo: NASA
ttn-69
The rare comet returns after 50,000 years – if you look towards Karlsvogna on Saturday, you can catch it with you – news Troms and Finnmark
