Comet, last seen by Neanderthals and mammoths is approaching Earth

Tengrinews.kz - In 2024, Earth will witness a rare astronomical event as Comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS (C/2023 A3) approaches, an event not seen since the time of Neanderthals and mammoths.

According to Space, the comet was discovered on January 9, 2023, at the XuYi station of the Purple Mountain Observatory in China. It has sparked intense discussions among astronomers. While some predict that it will become a bright celestial object visible even during the day, others doubt whether the comet will survive long enough to reach its peak.

Named after the Tsuchinshan Observatory and the Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System (ATLAS) project, the comet was re-discovered 44 days later at a station in South Africa. Initially, it was expected to become bright and visible to the naked eye in the fall of 2024. However, recent studies by comet expert Dr. Zdenek Sekanina suggest that the comet might disintegrate before reaching its perihelion (the closest point to the Sun) on September 27.

Despite these concerns, other astronomers remain optimistic. The comet has already shown signs of activity, such as forming an ion tail, indicating its resilience. This raises hopes that the comet could indeed become a spectacular sight in the sky in fall 2024.

As the comet moves closer to the Sun, we will soon learn whether it can survive the journey. If it remains intact, we may have the chance to witness one of the rarest and most beautiful phenomena observable from Earth.