Poster Maker: Feng Juan
The "brightest comet" of 2021, Comet Leonard, will pass through perihelion on January 3 and reach its closest position to the Sun.
Astronomical science experts said that the beginning of January may be the last chance for astronomers in the northern hemisphere to observe the comet, if the weather is clear, the atmosphere is transparent, and the southwest is low after sunset, interested publics are expected to briefly see its "true appearance" with the help of telescopes.
Beijing astronomy enthusiast Xu Xiaoping photographed Leonard's Comet in Huairou, Beijing on December 4, 2021. (Courtesy of CSVA)
Xiu Lipeng, director of the Tianjin Astronomical Society and an astronomical science expert, introduced that Leonard's Comet is a long-period comet, which was discovered by astronomer Gregory Leonard at the Lemon Hill Observatory on January 3, 2021, and was numbered C/2021 A1.
This is the first comet discovered in 2021, and after nearly a year of "testing", it eventually became the "brightest comet" in 2021. Since last December, many astronomy enthusiasts have photographed it before sunrise or after sunset.
Lu Gang, an astronomer from Gansu Province, photographed Leonard's Comet in Longnan, Gansu Province, on December 4, 2021. (Courtesy of CSVA)
Xiu Lipeng said that after passing through perihelion, Leonard's Comet will begin a journey gradually away from the center of the solar system. The orbit of a comet includes parabolic, elliptical, and hyperbolic, while the orbit of Comet Leonard is a hyperbolic orbit that is close to the parabola.
For now, Comet Leonard has been lucky not to be torn apart by the strong solar wind as it flew toward the sun. Many comets have been "crushed to pieces" in the process, such as may 2020, the highly anticipated C/2019 Y4 comet, which was expected to become a dazzling star in the night sky, but unfortunately, it was torn apart by the strong solar wind in the process of flying to the sun, which made astronomy enthusiasts around the world regret.
Comet Leonard photographed in Lijiang, Yunnan Province, on December 21, 2021. (Photo courtesy of The Star Edge Mountain Wind Team)
In the process of flying to the sun, on December 20, 2021, Leonard's Comet suddenly ushered in a second eruption, the brightness increased sharply, even to the point of being visible to the naked eye, and the tail of the comet was more stretched and more beautiful.
Beijing astronomy enthusiast Sun Si photographed Comet Leonard in Beijing on December 28, 2021. (Photo courtesy of The Star Edge Mountain Wind Team)
"The brightness of Comet Leonard is expected to drop to magnitude 6 in early January 2022, and only by relying on telescopes can it be seen at a low southwest altitude after sunset, and interested publics may wish to seize this moment and try to see it again." Xiu Lipeng said.
Producer: Hu Qinghai
Planner: Liu Xinhui
Reporter: Zhou Runjian
Edit: Chonghai
It was co-produced by Xinhua News Agency and Tianjin Branch of Xinhua News Agency
Produced by Starry Sky Studios