Latest news with #CometSWAN
Yahoo
24-04-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Bright green Comet SWAN falls apart after once-in-a-lifetime appearance in our night sky
Another comet has fascinated skygazers but has already sung its swan song after approaching the Sun. Comet SWAN (C/2025 F2) was discovered in March with the Solar Wind Anisotropies (SWAN) instrument on Nasa's Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) spacecraft, hence why SWAN is in the comet's name. Since its discovery, hundreds of observations of the comet have been logged into the International Astronomical Union's Minor Planet Center from observatories around the world. Why The Closest Supermoon Of The Year Will Be Invisible To Earth Comet SWAN was set to reach perihelion, the closest distance to the Sun, around May 1, raising hopes the possibility of unaided-eye viewing could be on the table later this month. But recent observations show the comet didn't make it past the final approach. "It looks like there's not much left of it, and it seems to be just clouded dust at this point that's gradually getting more diffuse and flying apart," said Dr. Qicheng Zhang, a post-doctoral astronomer at Lowell Observatory in Arizona. Zhang studies comets that get very close to the Sun, known as sun-grazers, such as Comet C/2024 G3 ATLA's approach in January. Comet SWAN was a smaller comet and Zhang said this is likely the factor that led to its early end. See It: Lyrid Meteor Shower Peaks In Dazzling Worldwide Display "The thing with small comets is that they tend to get spun up really easily by just random variations in their outgassing," he said. "When the ice on them starts to sublimate and create gas. It tends to not come out perfectly symmetrically. And that asymmetry starts to like, torque the thing and just spin it up." As a comet spins up, it starts to fall apart, which is likely what is happening to Comet SWAN now before it ceases to be an active comet. Comet SWAN has been observed by professional and amateur astronomers worldwide with its notable green coloring. Zhang said this coloring is likely from diatomic carbon. "Comets have a lot of organic material. When you toss it out into space, you get UV rays from the Sun that hit those complicated organic molecules, which happen to contain a lot of carbon. And when they get broken down, you'll get pieces that contain essentially just two carbon atoms stuck together. And that's essentially just the green that we see in these comets," Zhang said. The comet's orbital period is 1.4 million years, so even if it survived perihelion, it would be the last chance to see it in our lifetime. So long, Comet article source: Bright green Comet SWAN falls apart after once-in-a-lifetime appearance in our night sky
Yahoo
21-04-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
This newly found green comet may not have survived its trek past the sun
A glowing green comet discovered last month likely did not survive its recent trip past the sun, leaving it impossible to see with the naked eye. Comet C/2025 F2, also known as Comet SWAN, was discovered in late March and named after the Solar Wind Anisotropies (SWAN) instrument aboard NASA's Solar and Heliospheric Observatory spacecraft, according to the Planetary Society. The organization, which was founded by astronomer Carl Sagan and is run by CEO Bill Nye 'the Science Guy,' stated in an April 10 report that the comet appeared brighter in the wake of its discovery. While there was hope it would soon become visible to the naked eye, it could break apart when it reached its closest point to the sun, known as perihelion. Comet SWAN could have been easier to spot with an upcoming new moon on April 27, the Planetary Society added. But by Monday, astrophysicist Karl Battams with the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory told The Associated Press that after the comet's passage by the sun, all that will remain is 'just a dusty rubble pile.' This might have been the object's first ever trip past the sun, making it particularly vulnerable to breaking apart, Battams said. After its flyby, what's left of the comet will disappear into the outer reaches of the solar system, past where scientists think it came from. 'It's going to go so far out that we have no idea if it's ever going to return,' said Battams. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Here's what a Beatles song and a fossil have to do with a NASA mission to study asteroids 4 planets align in early-morning sky: How and where to spot them Could Mass. see the northern lights in the night sky on Wednesday? Get ready for shooting stars: Lyrid meteor shower to illuminate night sky Remember when Pluto was a planet? Here's 10 photos NASA took of the dwarf planet
The Independent
21-04-2025
- Science
- The Independent
Astronomers left disappointed as green comet meets fiery end before it can be seen
A news discovered comet, Comet SWAN, appears to have met a fiery end during its close encounter with the sun, disappointing astronomers hoping for a vibrant celestial display. Originating from the distant Oort Cloud, far beyond Pluto, the comet had been captivating observers with its distinctive tail, visible through telescopes and binoculars. However, experts now believe the icy wanderer likely fragmented as it swung past the sun, rapidly diminishing its brightness and dashing hopes of naked-eye visibility. 'We'll soon be left with just a dusty rubble pile,' astrophysicist Karl Battams with the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory said in an email. Comets are balls of frozen gas and dust from billions of years ago. Every so often, a comet passes through the inner solar system. 'These are relics from when the solar system first formed,' said Jason Ybarra, director of the West Virginia University Planetarium and Observatory. The newest comet was discovered by amateur astronomers, who spied it in photos taken by a camera on a spacecraft operated by NASA and the European Space Agency to study the sun. The comet won't swing close to Earth like Tsuchinshan-Atlas did last year. Other notable flybys included Neowise in 2020 and Hale-Bopp and Hyakutake in the 1990s. The comet, also designated C/2025 F2, would have been visible just after dark slightly north of where the sun set. Its green color would have been difficult to see with the naked eye. This might have been the object's first ever trip past the sun, making it particularly vulnerable to breaking apart, Battams said. After its flyby, what's left of the comet will disappear into the outer reaches of the solar system, past where scientists think it came from. 'It's going to go so far out that we have no idea if it's ever going to return,' said Battams.
Yahoo
15-04-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Newly discovered Comet SWAN makes once-in-a-lifetime appearance before brush with Sun
A newly discovered comet is fascinating astronomers and amateur stargazers alike as it remains a brightening feature in the northeast night sky. Comet SWAN (C/2025 F2) was discovered in March with the Solar Wind Anisotropies (SWAN) instrument on Nasa's Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) spacecraft, hence why SWAN is in the comet's name. The comet has an orbital period of 1.4 million years, so it won't be in our neighborhood again – at least in this lifetime. Since its discovery, hundreds of observations of the comet have been logged into the International Astronomical Union's Minor Planet Center from observatories around the world. Comet Pays Once-in-160,000-year Visit To Earth's Nighttime Skies Astronomers have been capturing its bright green light in the sky and signature comet tail. Astrophotographer Chuck Ayoub captured Comet SWAN on April 10 using a Celestron telescope in Texas. Comet SWAN will fly at its closest to the Sun on May 1, known as perihelion, and either survive this encounter or get blasted into smithereens. If Comet SWAN survives this brush with the Sun, it will then head out into space and won't be back in Earth's night sky for 1.4 million years. Comet ATLAS C/2024 G3 fell apart in January after a rare very close approach to the Sun. The SWAN comet has gotten brighter since its discovery, according to The Planetary Society. The catch is that right now the comet is not yet bright enough to see with the naked eye, so those with telescopes or binoculars have the best chances. A trip to your local observatory may be in order to see this. However, the comet continues to brighten, and the possibility of unaided-eye viewing could be on the table later this month. In mid-April, the comet is visible before sunrise along the northeast horizon. By the end of the month, the comet could appear in the evening hours. A new Moon on April 27 could also help viewing chances if Comet SWAN increases in brightness. Now through the end of April, Comet SWAN appears in the morning sky in the Northern Hemisphere. In May, those in the Southern Hemisphere will have the best view of Comet article source: Newly discovered Comet SWAN makes once-in-a-lifetime appearance before brush with Sun
