Get ready for a large comet named Atlas that will appear in the night sky at the end of April when we can see it with the naked eye!
This will be one of the most beautiful astronomical phenomena of the year that we will be able to enjoy April 29 and 30 viewed in the night sky, namely in the north/northwest direction! Astronomers predict that it will be visible with the opposite eye, or at least with ordinary binoculars. It will be closest to Earth May 23. It is currently said to be close to the orbit of Mars, increasing its speed on its way to the Sun.
Last December, when the comet was first discovered, the gaseous "pocket" surrounding the comet measured an incredible 720 thousand kilometers in diameter. For comparison: the Sun measures 1,392,700 kilometers in diameter, Jupiter 139,820 kilometers, and the Earth "only" 12,742 kilometers. It is also common knowledge that comets have a "tail" and Atlas's tail is similar in size to its atmosphere! At SpaceWeatherArchive have reported that it is not unusual for comets to be so massive because "they emit huge amounts of gas and dust into space". They further stated that it is "comet 17P/Holmes partially exploded and for a time had an even larger atmosphere around it than the Sun has".
On December 28 last year it was almost invisible, only visible with a telescope, but now it is getting brighter and will be visible with ordinary binoculars respectively even with the naked eye!
This comet is not a threat to our planet, and it won't be when it is closest and brightest to us (it will be about 116 million kilometers away)!
