A new comet is coming our way Comet SWAN.
Will it be a sight to remember, or will it dash our dreams, like Comet ATLAS?
Night skies in late May and early June may be graced by the sight of a magnificent swan.
But, this is no bird it is a visitor from the distant reaches of the Solar System.
SWAN captures images in ultraviolet light, including a specific ultraviolet wavelength called Lyman alpha.
As thecomet races toward the inner solar system, the icy body is starting to heat.
The hydrogen within thiswaterthen becomes an easy target for the eyes of the SOHO observatory.
These hydroxyls shine brightly as seen by the SWAN instrument.
Each day, SOHO maps nearly the entire sky, including data from countless stars.
Mattiazzo has now scored eight victories.
Comet SWANs closest approach to the Sun, called perihelion, will happen on May 27,NASA explains.
As the comet becomes brighter, it will be easier to spot for people living in the northern hemisphere.
Binoculars would be a perfect tool to help explore the comet.
Anything is better than nothing, but ones with wide lenses (like 1050) are ideal.
The exact place it will be seen in the sky will depend on the location of the viewer.
Nearly all comets discovered from SOHO observations were found by amateurs.
Most of those were found examining findings from the Large Angle and Spectrometric Coronagraph Experiment (LASCO).
Images fromSOHO are available for citizen scientiststo make their own discoveries, perhaps even finding their own comet.
Comets are fragile objects, and can often break apart as they approach the Sun.
In late April, the much anticipated Comet ATLAS suffered this fate, breaking into at least 30 fragments.
Whether Comet SWAN delights or disappoints remains to be seen.
This article was originally published onThe Cosmic CompanionbyJames Maynard, founder and publisher of The Cosmic Companion.
it’s possible for you to read this original piecehere.
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