The brightest comet of the year is approaching Earth: how to observe it?

C / 2021 A1 (Leonard), or to put it simply, the comet Leonard, looks very promising for visibility at theeye naked in the next few days and weeks. Coming from edge of the solar system, more than 3,500 times the distance between Earth and the Sun to theaphelia, the star is now visiting the vicinity of rocky planets, in particular the two twins: the Earth and Venus.

On December 13, C / 2021 A1 will pass as close as possible to our Planet, 35 million kilometers away, which remains far away. Six days later, on December 18-19, it will be the turn of Venus to welcome it in its neighborhood, and this time we can almost speak of touching it because it will pass only 4 million kilometers from its surface! We dare not imagine the spectacle that will be seen from there.

Then the comet will continue on its way to perihelion, the point of his orbit closest to the Sun. It will be January 3, 2022, exactly one year after its discovery by theastronomer Gregory J. Leonard – who naturally gave it its name – at the Mount Lemmon Observatory. C / 2021 A1 will then pass some 92 million kilometers from our Star (60% of the average Earth-Sun distance), which is a lot, and reduces the risks of its complete disintegration. Although, depending on the degree of cohesion of its core of ice and dust, there is always a great risk that it will break up during its journey through the hottest region of the country. Solar system. Hopefully this will not happen, so that one can make the most of the spectacle of his visit to the evening sky.

Comet Leonard could reach magnitude 4

Currently, scholars including seasoned amateur astronomers argue that Comet Leonard could reach the magnitude 5, or even 4, which would make it visible to the naked eye, around December 12. However, since it is a very diffuse and not punctual like a star or a planet, it is necessary to redouble your attention to distinguish it. Also, we strongly advise you to arm yourself with binoculars to admire it. Or, of course, of a telescope if you have one (or know someone who has). You will then be able to appreciate the beauty of its core surrounded by gas, its hair and plumes scattered in interplanetary space, opposite the Sun.

For weeks now, the comet has been followed by many amateur astronomers around the world who share on the social networks photos of their hunts. Among the most beautiful and spectacular are those where C / 2021 A1 is displayed in front of galaxies, located in the background, tens of millions oflight years of the earth. In this regard, let us point out that the site VirtualTelescope makes an appointment with all the curious on December 3, to admire with them, the comet Leonard which touches theglobular cluster Messier 3 (M3), in the constellation of Bouvier (Bootes). Apparently, because M3 is over 35,000 light years away from us and the comet.

Comet Leonard will be visible at the end of the night then at the beginning of the night

At the beginning of December, comet Leonard is visible high in the sky in the second part of the night until thedawn, passing Dogs de Chasse au Bouvier, then to the south-east. Its high speed (254,000 km / h) made it travel the celestial vault with great strides in relation to the “fixed” stars (which appear to us fixed). Over the nights, the star will lose height in the sky and approach the horizon as it advances towards the Earth. On December 9, she will enter the constellation Serpentarius and disappear from the morning sky, before dawn, on December 13, to enter the dusk December 14. She will then be in front of the Milky Way. You will have to look for it in the light of the setting sun, above the southwest horizon.

On December 16, in the evening, we can admire it in front of Sagittarius. On December 17 and 18, in the vicinity of the sparkling Venus. The opportunity to remember that these beautiful eveningswinter will be enhanced by the alignment of our neighbor with Saturn and Jupiter. And to this are added the Geminids, the most beautiful rain ofshooting Stars of the year whose peak of activity coincides with the night of the comet’s smallest distance from Earth.

We therefore cannot recommend enough that you go out and enjoy these beautiful celestial shows in the heart of the longest nights of the year. By turning the back, as always, at the light pollution, in order to admire all those objects that fill the darkness. Comet Leonard will undoubtedly be Comet of the Year if its brightness continues to increase as advertised, so if you miss it you will have to wait 35,000 years to see it again (estimates from its orbital period).