Comets are some of the most exciting celestial objects to observe. These visitors from the outer reaches of the solar system are essentially debris, such as dust, rock fragments, and frozen gas, left behind from their formation. There are a lot of them there too. According to NASAperhaps billions of comets orbit the sun. kuiper belt and oort cloud. And sometimes it gets close enough to Earth that we can see it.
Comet C/2023 A3 will reach its peak in October 2024 and has already begun to fade as it moves away from Earth. Don’t worry if you miss it. Another comet is expected to arrive by the end of the year, and several more in 2025. Here’s what to look for and some tips for optimizing your comet viewing.
1.Comet 333P/LINEAR
Returning to our neighborhood for the first time since its discovery in 2007, Comet 333P/Linear will make its closest approach to the Sun on November 29, 2024, and to Earth on December 9, 2024. It should be visible early in the morning in early December. And late in the evening.
you May You can see it with powerful binoculars, but a telescope is your best bet. 333P/LINEAR is visible in both hemispheres.
2. Comet C/2024 G3
Researchers have determined that C/2024 G3, discovered in April 2024, is a long-period comet that originated from the Oort cloud. It has come a long way to get here, and it probably won’t pass us by again for at least 200 years, so catch it if you can.
C/2024 G3 is expected to be the brightest comet in 2025. It may also be visible during the day. It will reach perihelion (the point on its path when it is closest to the Sun) on or about January 13, 2025, and will be best visible in the Southern Hemisphere. It’s brightest in the Northern Hemisphere, so you may be able to catch a glimpse of it even if you’re not directly below it.
There is one caveat. C/2024 G3 is passing very close to the Sun, at which point it could break into pieces or evaporate.
3. Comet 210P/Christensen
Comet 210P/Christensen will be visible in the Northern Hemisphere in November and December of 2025. A good pair of binoculars will help you spot this comet. It may even become bright enough to be visible to the naked eye. On the other hand, it may not survive after passing through the Sun.
read more: When was Halley’s Comet last seen? Will it ever come back?
How to see a comet
According to , there are several tactics you can implement to increase your chances of discovering your target comet. samantha lawleran astronomer at the University of Regina in Saskatchewan. It may seem obvious, but to see a comet you need to find a dark spot away from city lights. Also, try to time your viewing to avoid bright moonlight.
Lawler also suggests looking for a good one online. finder chart. Apps are available to help you figure out exactly where to look in the sky, but Lawler doesn’t recommend using them in the field. In fact, you shouldn’t use your phone at all. The light from your device prevents your eyes from adjusting to the darkness. If you want to find a comet and get a good look at it, your eyes need time to adjust to the darkness.
Comet observing equipment doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive. A telescope is best, but binoculars often work too. In fact, binoculars may be better.
“Binoculars are great when you’re first learning about comet spotting because it’s much easier,” says Lawler. But even experienced comet watchers use it. Lawler used binoculars to observe Comet C/2023 A3 this fall.
Grab your gear, stash your phone in your pocket, and head into the dark. There are visitors on the way.
read more: 20 things you didn’t know about comets
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Avery Hart is a freelance science journalist. In addition to contributing to Discover, she is a regular contributor to a variety of outlets, both print and online, including National Geographic, Science News Explores, Medscape, and WebMD. She is the author of Bullet With Your Name on It: What You Will Simply Die From and What You Can Do About It (Clerisy Press 2007), as well as several other books for young readers. Avery entered the world of journalism while in college, writing for the school newspaper and editing the student nonfiction magazine. She writes about all areas of science, but has a particular interest in neuroscience, the science of consciousness, and AI, interests she developed while earning a degree in philosophy.
