How to Spot Leonard, the Brightest Comet of the Year

The meter has arrived for skywatchers to front up and catch a glimpse of comet Leonard . Here ’s how you could find this gigantic egg of chalk and dust .

Senior inquiry specialist Greg J. Leonarddiscoveredthe comet that now bears his name on January 3 , from the Mount Lemmon Observatory in Arizona . Comet Leonard ( or more formally , C/2021 A1 ) is en itinerary to the inner solar organization , and , as is customary of inward comets , it ’s increasingly shedding its surface materials into distance . Leonard ’s close approach to the Sun — its perihelion — will take place on January 3 , 2022 , after which time it will begin its long journeying to the out solar scheme .

The windowpane for viewing Leonard without topnotch - sophisticated astronomical equipment is now undetermined . Spotting the comet with binoculars and unpaid telescopes should be comparatively comfortable . Leonard might even be visible to the unaided eye , but cometary behavior and brightness are difficult to predict .

A stunning view of comet Leonard, as seen in the skies above the Eastern Sierra mountains of California. Dan Bartlett created the picture from 62 different images captured by a mid-sized telescope.

A stunning view of comet Leonard, as seen in the skies above the Eastern Sierra mountains of California. Dan Bartlett created the picture from 62 different images captured by a mid-sized telescope.Image: Dan Bartlett

“ in good order now , Leonard sports a little but lush dust tail,”accordingto Sky & Telescope . “ If its junk yield rate mount in the coming week as the comet go up the Sun and becomes more active , two particular circumstances — an orbital plane carrefour and a high stage angle — may boost its brightness above predictions . ”

Leonard ’s closest feeler to Earth will happen on December 12 , at which time it will be 21 million miles ( 34 million klick ) off . At perihelion , Leonard will be 0.6151 AU from the Sun , or 57 million nautical mile ( 92 million kilometer ) .

The object should appear as a very faint fuzzy star . The good intelligence is that Arcturus — the brightest adept in the northerly constellation of Boötes and the fourthly - brightest adept in the dark sky — can be used as a reference point . Again , do n’t assume that you ’ll be capable to recognize Leonard with your eyes alone , as you ’ll in all probability need some optical aid .

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Skywatchers in the Northern Hemisphere should currently search for Leonard high in the predawn sky while facing east . As Space.comreports , Monday December 6 will bid an splendid opportunity to view Leonard ( local weather condition permitting ):

You will immediately notice the brilliant orange - yellowed star , Arcturus in the constellation of Boötes the Herdsman . Now , with field glasses , scan that part of the sky about 5 degree to the left of Arcturus and you should see Comet Leonard . The comet ’s detritus tail , which bug out to lengthen noticeably during former November , should be pointing almost straight up .

Leonard “ will just be about half the width of a clinch fist to the left ” of Arcturus , Ed Krupp , an uranologist and the director of the Griffith Observatory in Los Angeles , toldNPR .

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Later this month , from around December 14 to 16 , the comet will be visible after sunset , appearing very low along the southwest horizon . The comet will disappear from perspective after Christmas , but only for viewers in the Northern Hemisphere . Skywatchers in the Southern Hemisphere can catch a glimpse of Leonard go in mid - December and into early January , as EarthSky account .

At speeds reaching 158,084 naut mi per hr ( 254,412 km / h ) relative to Earth , Leonard is think an ultrafast comet . That said , Leonard will still appear stationary in the sky due to the distance involved , but its stop number means its position in the sky will change daily . EarthSky has provide some handychartsthat you’re able to practice to track the comet ’s position over the come days and weeks .

Sky & Telescopesaysit will take Leonard 35,000 years to reach its farthermost distance from the Sun , which means a full year on Leonard lasts for around 70,000 years . All the more understanding to make the effort to view this comet .

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