On April 1, the celestial wanderer 41R / Tuttle-Giacobini-Kresaka will approach the Earth as close as possible
The Moscow Planetarium informed about the imminent April Fools' meeting - it spread a special message, warning that he was not joking. Comet 41P / Tuttle-Giacobini-Kresac, 1.4 kilometers in diameter, is indeed approaching Earth. And on April Fool's Day it will be about 22 million kilometers (21,231,152 km) from our planet. This is almost 7 times less than from the Earth to the Sun.
Some astronomers, however, believe that the minimum distance from a comet to our planet will become a little later - on April 5.
Orbit of comet 41P / Tuttle-Giacobini-Kresak
And according to unanimous opinion, on April 13, 2017, the heavenly wanderer will come closest to the Sun, reach its maximum brightness and fluff up its tail. It will be visible all night through binoculars against the background of the constellations Ursa Major and the Dragon.
Trajectory of comet 41P / Tuttle-Giacobini-Kresak in the near future
Comet 41P / Tuttle-Giacobini-Kresak - short-period - makes a complete revolution around the Sun quickly - in 5.41 years. Opened it
Horace Tuttle May 3, 1858 In 1907, Michel Giacobini rediscovered, and in 1951 Lubor Kresak rediscovered it again. Since astronomers discovered and rediscovered the comet independently of each other, it eventually received a triple name.
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It is possible that comet 41P / Tuttle-Giacobini-Kresak will be visible to the naked eye. This has happened. For example, in 1973, it suddenly flashed, increasing brightness 10 times. In a similar way, albeit not so actively, the comet led in 2001 - it became 3 times brighter. And now something similar is possible. This comet attracts observers with its flashes. Follow what is called the events in the sky.
Such astronomers saw the comet 41P / Tuttle-Giacobini-Kresac in 2006
Astronomers assure: the celestial wanderer, who often and punctually visits us, arriving from Jupiter, has never threatened the Earth and never will. She's not one of those.
