"Friends of Other Humans" Are About to Return to Earth's Sky

(NLDO) - From the "dark region" of the Solar System, the object that visited when Earth still had many different human species has returned.

According to calculations, comet C/2023 A3 - also known as Tsuchinshan-ATLAS - will reach perigee (the closest point to Earth) on October 12, after 80,000 years of extinction.

C/2023 A3 is home to the Oort Cloud, often referred to as the "dark side" of the Solar System, a belt on the outer edge of the system filled with icy asteroids and comets.

Comet C/2023 A3 will once again shine in Earth's sky - Graphic photo: SCITECH DAILY

According to SciTech Daily, during the observable period - starting from perihelion (closest to the Sun on September 27 until November 2 - this comet can reach a brightness equivalent to the North Star.

Some calculations even suggest that there will be a period when it will be as bright as Venus (two other names for the planet Venus).

This brightness is due to the sublimation phenomenon that occurred on the celestial body during its hot approach to the Sun.

Real image recorded by observatories when the comet from the Oort Cloud was still relatively far away - Photo: UNISTELLAR

This interesting object was discovered by modern humans in early 2023 by observatories in South Africa and China and quickly aroused deep interest in the astronomical community.

In fact, humanity had seen it, perhaps much more clearly than we do today, under much clearer skies 80,000 years ago, when our ancestors shared the earth with many other human species.

According to scientist Franck Marchis, co-founder of the Unistellar astronomy community and Director of Citizen Science at the SETI Institute (USA), if this comet survives perihelion, it will become one of the brightest objects visible in the Northern Hemisphere.

So C/2023 A3 could become one of the most important astronomical objects of the decade, especially as it provides a "window" into our understanding of the mysterious Oort Cloud.

Source: https://nld.com.vn/ban-cua-loai-nguoi-khac-sap-tro-lai-bau-troi-trai-dat-196240929090449569.htm