A recently discovered comet, C/2023 A3, also known as Tsuchinshan-ATLAS, has astronomers buzzing.
It’s currently on a journey towards the sun and was expected to be visible to the naked eye in October.
However, new research suggests that the comet may disintegrate before we get the chance to see it.
Discovery and Journey
Comet C/2023 A3 was first spotted by astronomers at the Purple Mountain Observatory in China on January 9, 2023.
NASA’s Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System (ATLAS) confirmed it on February 22, 2023.
The comet is on a trajectory that brings it close to the sun for the first time and could potentially be ejected from the solar system afterward.
Closest Approaches
The comet is scheduled to reach its closest point to the sun, called perihelion, on September 27, 2024.
If it survives, it will make its closest approach to Earth on October 13, 2024, coming within 44 million miles (71 million kilometers) of our planet.
At this distance, it could be as bright as the stars, visible without any special equipment.
Concerns of Disintegration
However, a new study suggests that the comet might break apart before these events.
Zdenek Sekanina, an astronomer at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, has been studying comets for over 50 years.
In his recent paper, Sekanina argues that C/2023 A3 is already showing signs of fragmentation.
He notes that the comet has not brightened as expected as it gets closer to the sun, indicating that its nucleus may be compromised.
Additionally, the comet’s tail is thinner than usual and has an unusual orientation, suggesting it is not intact.
Sekanina also observed that the comet seems to be accelerating in a way that isn’t explained by gravity alone, likely due to gas jets pushing it apart from within.
Historical Comparisons
Comets often fragment when they get close to the sun because of its strong gravitational pull.
This happened to comet ISON in 2014.
Other comets, like Nishimura and the “devil comet” 12P/Pons Brooks, survived their solar encounters recently.
However, C/2023 A3’s behavior seems to mirror that of comet C/2019 Y4, which fell apart in 2020 before its close approach to the sun.
Different Opinions
Not all astronomers agree with Sekanina.
Nick James from the British Astronomical Association thinks it’s too early to conclude that the comet will disintegrate.
He believes the current observations don’t necessarily point to fragmentation and cautions against making definitive predictions about comets.
Conclusion
As the debate continues, one thing is clear: scientists will be closely watching C/2023 A3.
Whether it brightens our skies or crumbles into space dust, the comet offers a fascinating glimpse into the dynamic nature of our solar system.
Keep an eye out this fall—you might just catch a glimpse of this celestial traveler.