Rare comet may be visible for only time in 160,000 years

A bright star can be seen in skies around the world in the coming days for the first time in 160,000 years.

NASA said the future brightness of a comet is “very difficult” to predict, but Comet C/2024 G3 (Atlas) may be bright enough to be seen with the naked eye.

On Monday, the comet was at perihelion, when it is closest to the Sun, which affects its appearance. Experts say it will be visible from Monday night.

Although the exact location of its appearance is unknown, experts believe that the comet, which can be as bright as Venus, can best be seen from the southern hemisphere.

The comet was spotted last year by Nasa’s Asteroid Terrestrial-Impact Last Alert System.

Dr Shyam Balaji, a researcher in astroparticle physics and cosmology at King’s College London, said that “the latest orbital calculations show that it will pass about 8.3 million miles from the Sun”, which it says is an intersolar comet.

The university described the comet as a 160,000 year event.

Dr Balaji said the opportunity to see the comet could occur “in the days around perihelion, depending on the conditions and behavior of the comet”.

“Like all comets, its shape and brightness can be unpredictable,” he added.

Mr Balaji said people living in the southern hemisphere – where the comet is predicted to be best seen – should “look towards the east before sunrise, [and] After perihelion, try west at sunset.

But Mr Balaji added that although it is expected to be “very bright”, predictions of the comet’s brightness are “uncertain”, and many could be fainter than first predicted.

For the northern hemisphere – including the UK – viewing can be difficult due to the comet’s relationship with the Sun.

You can check with BBC Weather online to see if the sky is clear enough to see where you are.

Mr. Balaji advises people who want to see this star to find a place away from light pollution and use binoculars or a small telescope.

He warned the spectators to be careful at sunrise and sunset, and told them to track the comet’s location to find where it would appear in the sky.

Meanwhile, astronomers have been following the path of the comet.

On Saturday, NASA scientist Don Pettit shared a photo on social media of the comet taken from the International Space Station.

“It’s amazing to see a comet from orbit. Atlas C2024-G3 is visiting us,” he wrote.