Atlas Hyeseong is Splitting Apart

This is Comet Atlas observed by the Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute on March 30. It can be seen that the light is very bright.

[Asia Economy Reporter Junho Hwang] Observations indicate that it will be difficult to view the upcoming Atlas Comet space show with the naked eye next month. The Atlas Comet, considered a great comet bright enough to illuminate the northern hemisphere night sky nearly as brightly as a crescent moon, is losing its brightness as it breaks apart. The Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute announced these findings based on observations from the time the Atlas Comet approached Earth in March until now (the 29th).

The Atlas Comet is Breaking Apart

This is Comet Atlas observed on the 17th of last month. It can be seen that the brightness of the light has significantly decreased compared to the 30th of last month.

Analysis of the observational data revealed that the comet’s central brightness is distorted into an elliptical shape, and its trajectory slightly deviates from the initially predicted orbit. This led to the conclusion that the Atlas Comet is breaking apart as it approaches the Sun.

Videos released by the institute show a decrease in the brightness of the Atlas Comet. In footage taken on March 30, the position of the Atlas Comet is clearly visible, but in the video from the 17th of last month, its brightness has significantly diminished.

The institute stated that additional observations revealed the comet’s nucleus has split into four parts. Accordingly, NASA’s JPL Horizons system began providing orbital data for these four individual fragments, and on the 20th of last month, the Hubble Space Telescope confirmed that the comet’s nucleus had fragmented into at least ten pieces, according to the institute.

Likely Difficult to Observe with the Naked Eye

The institute expects that although the Atlas Comet will approach its closest point to Earth on the 23rd of next month, it will be difficult to observe with the naked eye. Currently, the Atlas Comet can be observed with a telescope near the constellation Camelopardalis, close to Ursa Major in the night sky, but it is not visible to the naked eye.

The Atlas Comet (C/2019 Y4) was identified last December by the comet collision early warning system developed by the University of Hawaii. Although initially faint at discovery, the comet rapidly increased in speed and brightness as it approached Earth.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.