A comet that won’t pass by Earth for another 80,000 years was captured in fascinating images streaking across the skies over South Carolina.
The once-in-a-lifetime comet, nicknamed A3, emerged from the Oort Cloud, a mysterious bubble-shaped phenomenon that holds our solar system within it.
Stargazers eagerly awaited what they called the “comet of the century,” last seen 8,000 decades ago.
And those who were lucky enough to catch a glimpse of the story were able to see the incredible images.
Now, the comet that visits Earth from interstellar space will live on through fascinating images.
A once-in-a-lifetime comet, nicknamed A3, was seen making its journey through the skies over South Carolina and captured in magical images.
The comet was visible shortly after sunset in the western part of the sky above the hydroelectric intake towers of the Lake Murray Dam, near Columbia, South Carolina.
The Oort Cloud is very far from Earth, even farther than Pluto, which is more than 3.24 billion miles from our planet.
But the comet is expected to travel much closer, coming within 44 million miles of Earth. POT reported.
People residing in the southern hemisphere have already been able to witness the event, but those who did not see it should not lose hope just yet.
Yesterday was just the first day of his arrival. Scientists said that over the next few weeks, those who take a look at the western night sky just after sunset will be able to glimpse, carolina fox reported.
Ashley Pagnotta, professor of physics and astronomy at the College of Charleston, said that as early as yesterday it will be possible to see with the naked eye whether the sun is hitting the comet’s tail correctly. Post and courier reported.
The comet will not fly through Earth’s skies for another 80,000 years and was last seen 8,000 decades ago.
The comet emerged from the Oort Cloud, a bubble-like phenomenon that holds our solar system inside.
But of course, binoculars can always help you see the comet in all its glory.
The best time to see A3 will be early next week. sky and telescope reported.
The Oort Cloud sounds like any other cloud, except that if humans visited it, they wouldn’t find a puffy, white, delicate creation.
Pagnotta said it is made of huge rocks and debris, some even larger than mountains.
It is believed to be the result of fragments left over from when our solar system was created.
Comet A3 was captured early Friday in San Francisco, California, just at dawn as it crossed the Golden Gate Bridge.
A3 is referred to by stargazers as the “comet of the century” and first arrived on Friday, but will be visible for weeks to come.
Billions of years ago, the cloud acted like a “hockey net,” trapping rocks and chunks of ice as large as Mount Everest, Post and Courier added.
Astronomers call Oort comets time capsules because they contain materials dating back to the birth of the solar system.
Although the comet will still rise 44 million miles from Earth, it is close enough that astronomers around the world can analyze it and learn what materials it contains thanks to advanced technology.
The comet is named after the place where it was first seen in 2023, the Chinese Tsuchinshan Observatory and the Asteroid Land Impact Last Alert System.
Astronomers’ predictions hold out hope that the comet’s brightness will increase after its reappearance in October, making it possible for city dwellers to see it.
The Oort Cloud, from which the comet emerges, is said to be the result of fragments left behind after the creation of our solar system.
It is predicted to start higher in the sky each evening and be easier to spot, as long as the comet stays bright enough.
The southern hemisphere was able to see the comet more clearly, but as we approach mid-October it is expected that the northern hemisphere will be able to see it more clearly.
A3 was also seen in San Francisco, California, early Friday morning and seen at sunrise over the Golden Gate Bridge Friday morning around 6 a.m.
Comets can be classified as long period or short period depending on the years it takes them to orbit the Sun. Short period comets take less than 200 years, the longest known orbit takes more than 250,000 years to make one revolution. around the Sun.
And, luckily for us, there is absolutely no chance of the comet hitting Earth as it streaks across our planet’s skies.
