A diagram revealing the positions of Venus and Comet Leonard in the sky around 5:30 p.m. local time from New York City on Dec. 18, 2021. (Image credit: Starry Night) The originator of Comet Leonard has actually shared a couple of ideas to help see the bright object in the night sky this month. Comet Leonard, formally referred to as C/2021 A1, is named after Gregory Leonard, a senior research study professional at the University of Arizonas Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, who discovered the cosmic things in January 2021. It wont be near Earth again for another 80,000 years, More than 21 million miles away (or 88 times the range from Earth to the moon), Comet Leonard made its closest approach to Earth on Dec. 12. The comets next flyby will be at Venus later today, on Dec. 17– the comets last visit to Earths area, prior to leaving the planetary system forever, according to a statement from the University of Arizona. Related: Spectacular comet views from Earth and area” There is a small chance Venus will pass close enough to the comets course where it may get some dust grains in its environment, producing a meteor shower on our surrounding planet,” Leonard stated in the statement.Currently, the comet can be seen low in the evening sky, just after sunset. Leonard shared some seeing tips to identify the comet in the night sky this week. With Venus prominently noticeable in the southwestern sky, skywatchers can use the brilliant planet as a referral point to find the comet, Leonard advises. Astrophotographer Chris Schur captured this spectacular photo of Comet Leonard on Dec. 4, 2021 from Payson, Arizona using a 10-inch Newtonian telescope and 60-minute cam exposure. (Image credit: Courtesy of Chris Schur)” Beginning Dec. 13, this comet will appear very low above the horizon just after sundown,” Leonard said in the declaration. “It will skim throughout the west-southwestern horizon between now up till around Christmastime. The reality that its so near to the horizon makes this comet a bit difficult to observe.” However, as the comet travels closer to the sun, its tail and coma– the cloud of dust and gas that surrounds the comet– might scatter sunlight, making the comet appear better and possibly simpler to find. ” I feel there is going to be something to be seen even for the casual observer,” Leonard stated in the statement. “Find yourself a dark sky with a great view of the horizon, bring field glasses and I think you may be rewarded.” Comet Leonard shines bright in this image from the European Space Agencys Near-Earth Object Coordination Centre utilizing the Calar Alto Schmidt telescope in Spain. It was created by stacking 90 5-second direct exposure images of the comet taken on Dec. 7, 2021 on top of each other. (Image credit: ESA/NEOCC) This will be the last possibility skywatchers have to observe Comet Leonard up close prior to it is flung back out into the depths of area.” This is the last time we are visiting the comet,” Leonard stated in the statement. “Its speeding along at escape speed, 44 miles per second. After its slingshot around the sun, it will be ejected from our planetary system, and it may stumble into another star system millions of years from now.” Follow Samantha Mathewson @Sam_Ashley13. Follow us on Twitter @Spacedotcom and on Facebook..
A diagram showing the positions of Venus and Comet Leonard in the sky around 5:30 p.m. local time from New York City on Dec. 18, 2021. Comet Leonard, formally understood as C/2021 A1, is called after Gregory Leonard, a senior research study expert at the University of Arizonas Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, who found the cosmic object in January 2021. Related: Spectacular comet views from Earth and area” There is a small chance Venus will pass close enough to the comets path where it may pick up some dust grains in its atmosphere, producing a meteor shower on our neighboring planet,” Leonard stated in the statement.Currently, the comet can be seen low in the evening sky, simply after sundown. (Image credit: Courtesy of Chris Schur)” Beginning Dec. 13, this comet will appear really low above the horizon just after sunset,” Leonard stated in the declaration.