Stargazers in for a treat as comet set to make rare appearance
The comet, named 2024 G3 Atlas, will be passing by just after sunset.
Picture: @SAAO/X
CAPE TOWN - Stargazers will be in for a treat this evening as a comet will be passing by our evening skies.
The comet, named 2024 G3 Atlas, will be passing by just after sunset.
Dr Daniel Cunnama, science engagement astronomer at the South African Astronomical Observatory, said that these types of astronomical events were quite rare.
"These comets are fairly rare and it's pretty rare to have one that's going to be visible to us. This one is going to be very difficult to see. It's at the moment very, very close to the sun, so if we do have a chance and if it's not cloudy this evening, that's probably our best chance, So just in the 10 or 20 minutes after sunset."
Daniel explained how a celestial body gets its unique name.
"Comets are named after the telescope or person that discovered them so that's why this is called Atlas, and it was discovered in April 2024, so that's why 2024 is in its name. And it was discovered actually with these Atlas telescopes, it's called Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System."