Astronomer from the United States discovered a new comet in the solar system
Astronomer Gregory Leonard, working at the Mount Lemmon Infrared Observatory in Arizona, discovered a new comet in the solar system. It was named Comet Leonard, reports The Daily Mail.
Scientists believe that this object will be visible in the sky with the naked eye and will become the brightest in 2021. But this will happen towards the end of the year, when it comes close to the Sun. The comet will appear very low above the horizon.
The comet's speed is 254 399 km per hour relative to the Earth, that is, 70.6 km per second. When first spotted, she was 160,000 times dimmer than the faintest stars in the sky. It was classified as a 16th magnitude object. But during the flight past the Sun, it will reach a magnitude of 4 or 5.
Comet Leonard is now between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter. According to astronomers' calculations, it will come closest to Earth on December 12 (at a distance of 35 million km).
There are no specific details about Leonard's size, shape, and structure yet, since the comet was discovered very recently. But scientists plan to continue observing.
It is already known that the comet has an elongated orbit. She was last in the inner solar system 70 thousand years ago. After approaching the Sun, the comet will leave the vicinity of the star and go into outer space.
The comet is now beginning to form a tail as it heats up as it approaches the sun. They will get as close as possible on January 3, 2022.
Previously, scientists suggested that the mass extinction of the dinosaurs was caused not by an asteroid, but by a comet. She left her usual orbit due to the gravity of Jupiter.
