Christmas will come early for some because the year’s brightest comet this week will fly across the night sky. Not one but two space spectacles are scheduled to appear Friday night: the Christmas Comet and the Geminid meteor shower are due to light up the night sky within hours of one another.
The Christmas Comet, which is named for the time of year it appears, is making a close appearance to Earth, something that only occurs every five and a half years. CBS News reported that the comet will be among the 10 closest to approach Earth in modern times, and could also be bright enough for people to see with the naked eye.
The Christmas comet is expected to appear as a green and fuzzy comet in the east, close to the constellation known as Orion, or the Saucepan, ANU astronomer Dr. Brad Tucker said.
“The green color is coming from the gas that is coming off the comet,” Tucker said. “There is a bunch of ice on it and methane — it’s essentially like a dirty snowball and so when it goes around the sun it melts…and is a steamy, stinky green glow.”
Its closest approach to Earth will be Sunday and people should be able to view it between 9:30 and 10 p.m. The comet also comes during the annual Geminid meteor shower.
By: Maytinee Kramer
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