A rare and bright comet, C/2024 G3 (Atlas), could be visible in the skies across the globe over the coming days for the first time in 160,000 years. According to NASA, the comet’s future brightness is notoriously hard to predict, but it has a good chance of being seen by the naked eye.
The comet was spotted last year and will pass close to the Sun, making it visible from Monday night. Experts believe it could shine as bright as Venus and may be best observed from the southern hemisphere. Dr. Shyam Balaji, a researcher at King’s College London, said that opportunities to spot the comet may occur in the days around its perihelion passage.
While predicting the comet’s brightness is uncertain, Dr. Balaji advises people to look towards the eastern horizon before sunrise and the western horizon after sunset, depending on their location. However, viewing may be challenging for those in the northern hemisphere due to the comet’s proximity to the Sun.
To spot the comet, astronomers recommend finding a location away from light pollution and using binoculars or a small telescope. They also warn observers to be cautious around sunrise and sunset and track the comet’s position to find where it may appear in the sky.
This rare event is expected to occur only once every 160,000 years, making it a significant astronomical occurrence.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cvge4e7dzxyo