Tag

Perihelion

All articles tagged with #perihelion

science6 days ago•4 min saved

Tiny Comet 41P Flips Its Spin After Near-Sun Pass

Analysis of comet 41P/Tuttle-Giacobini-Kresák from its 2017 close solar approach shows a dramatic spin-down followed by an apparent spin reversal, inferred from light curves and Hubble data. The rapid change, likely driven by torques from outgassed jets on its ~1‑km nucleus, exceeds previous records and could spin the comet apart if it continues; the finding is in an arXiv preprint and not yet peer‑reviewed, with the next spin measurements expected at the 2028 perihelion.

via ScienceAlert|

#41p #comet #perihelion

space16 days ago•84 min saved

New Sungrazing Comet Could Glow in Daylight if It Survives Its Close Sun Pass

Discovered C/2026 A1 (MAPS) is a Kreutz sungrazing comet that will swing within about 0.5 million miles of the Sun at perihelion on April 4; if it survives the solar blast, it could become bright enough to be seen with the naked eye—even in daylight—if it survives the solar encounter; observers in the Southern Hemisphere are best placed to view, while those in the north may see it low on the western horizon at sunset; most sungrazers disintegrate near perihelion, so brightness is uncertain, and even if it breaks up it could remain visible with a telescope in late March; another potential bright comet, C/2025 PanSTARRS, may follow later in April.

via Live Science|

#comets #daylight-visibility #kreutz-sungrazer

space20 days ago•6 min saved

Fresh Kreutz Fragment MAPS Could Dazzle Skies in April

A newly discovered Kreutz sungrazer, C/2026 A1 (MAPS), may swing extremely close to the Sun in early April. If it survives perihelion, it could become a notable evening sky object and possibly visible in daylight; its brightness depends on whether it remains intact or breaks up, with the southern hemisphere likely having the best viewing opportunity. SOHO will provide images of the event.

via ScienceAlert|

#april-show #comet-maps #daytime-visibility

science21 days ago•11 min saved

New Kreutz Comet MAPS Could Light Up April Skies

Astronomers have spotted a new comet, C/2026 A1 (MAPS), discovered Jan 13 by four amateur observers in the Atacama. It’s a member of the Kreutz sungrazing family and will swing very close to the Sun, passing within about 120,000 km at perihelion in early April. If it survives perihelion, MAPS could become a spectacular evening sight in early to mid-April and might even be daylight-visible, though it could fragment. Ongoing observations suggest it’s brightening, and SOHO images may capture it regardless. Viewing will be easiest from the southern hemisphere; stay tuned for updates as the close solar pass approaches.

via The Conversation|

#astronomy #comet-maps #daylight-visibility

space1 month ago•5 min saved

Icy Comet Wierzchos Skims the Sun, Promises a Clearer February View

Comet C/2024 E1 (Wierzchos) will reach perihelion today, skimming about 84.6 million km from the Sun and brightening to roughly magnitude +8.1, visible only with binoculars or a telescope. It won’t be naked-eye visible this pass, but it’s expected to return in February for a better chance to be seen from Earth, with a perigee around 93 million miles (1 AU) and viewing opportunities shifting from the Southern Hemisphere this month to the Northern Hemisphere in mid-February after sunset. Discovered in 2024 by the Catalina Sky Survey and likely originating in the Oort Cloud, JWST observations have studied its spectrum; the comet poses no threat.

via The Daily Galaxy|

#astronomy #comet #february-viewing

astronomy1 month ago•45 min saved

Comet Wierzchos makes a solar pass at perihelion—will you catch a glimpse?

Comet C/2024 E1 (Wierzchos) is near perihelion today, Jan 20, skimming about 52.6 million miles from the Sun at 1:24 p.m. EST, which should brighten it but likely won’t be visible to the naked eye (peak magnitude around +8.1). It will require a small telescope or good skies, and observers in the U.S. may have limited viewing as the comet travels through Microscopium and dips below the horizon at night. After Earth’s closer approach on Feb. 17 (about 93 million miles away), it will still be faint and best seen near sunset from favorable southern skies, fading as it moves away. The object was discovered in 2024 by the Catalina Sky Survey and is tracked by space observers like NASA/JWST, with visibility depending on local conditions.

via Space|

#astronomy #c2024-e1-wierzchos #comet

science1 month ago•4 min saved

Perihelion: Earth's Closest Sun Point Doesn't Change Our Seasons

In 2026, Earth reached perihelion—its closest approach to the Sun—on Jan 3 at about 91.4 million miles (147,099,894 km). The roughly 3% distance change compared with its farthest point yields negligible shifts in global temperatures; seasons are driven primarily by the tilt of Earth's axis, not distance to the Sun. Perihelion matters more for highly elliptical orbits like comets or spacecraft such as NASA's Parker Solar Probe.

via The Daily Galaxy|

#astronomy #earth-orbit #kepler

science1 month ago•40 min saved

Potential Great Comet of 2026 Emerges: C/2025 R3 Pan-STARRS Could Dazzle the Skies

Astronomers say the newly spotted Comet C/2025 R3 (Pan-STARRS) could become 2026’s Great Comet, with perihelion around April 20 and closest approach to Earth on April 27. Brightness is uncertain: some predictions suggest it may reach magnitude 2.5 (visible to the naked eye), while others estimate magnitude 8 (requiring a telescope). The best viewing window is likely around mid‑April near perihelion, with Southern Hemisphere observers possibly seeing it in early May; brightness will depend on forward scattering and how the comet responds to solar radiation.

via Yahoo|

#april-2026 #c2025-r3-pan-starrs #great-comet-of-2026

space1 month ago•56 min saved

Great Comet of 2026 Could Be Naked-Eye Visible

Astronomers say the newly spotted Comet C/2025 R3 (Pan-STARRS) could become 2026’s Great Comet, with perihelion around April 20 and Earth flyby around April 27. Brightness is uncertain—estimates range from magnitude 8 (visible with a telescope) to about magnitude 2.5 (visible to the naked eye). The best naked-eye viewing window may be around April 17 near the new Moon, and the comet will be in Pisces near Pegasus as it approaches the Sun; forward scattering could boost brightness if the geometry aligns.

via Live Science|

#c2025-r3-pan-starrs #comet #naked-eye-visibility

science1 month ago•6 min saved

Comet 24P/Schaumasse's Closest Sun Approach: Will You See It?

Comet 24P/Schaumasse will reach its closest approach to the sun on January 8, but its current brightness level makes it invisible to the naked eye, requiring a telescope for observation, especially under dark sky conditions.

via Space|

#24pschaumasse #astronomy #comet

science1 month ago•5 min saved

Earth's Closest Approach to the Sun and a Notable Cyber Scam in Karwar

The sun appears largest in the sky on January 3, 2026, during Earth's closest approach to the star, known as perihelion, but the difference is minimal and has no significant effect on Earth's climate or seasons.

via Space|

#astronomy #earth #perihelion

science1 month ago•1 min saved

Earth's Closest Approach to the Sun and Celestial Events in Early January

On January 3, 2026, Earth will reach its closest point to the Sun, called perihelion, making the Sun appear slightly larger in the sky and in photographs, with the smallest distance of about 147.1 million km. Astronomers warn about the risks of observing the Sun without proper filters, despite January not being ideal for solar viewing.

via Mehr News Agency|

#astronomy #earth #perihelion

science1 month ago•4 min saved

Earth's Perihelion and the Year's Largest Sun on January 3, 2026

Earth reaches perihelion, its closest point to the sun, on January 3, 2026, but this event has minimal impact on seasons, which are primarily driven by Earth's axial tilt. Perihelion slightly increases solar energy and affects Earth's orbital speed, influencing season length and climate trends over long timescales, but does not cause significant weather changes.

via National Geographic|

#earth-orbit #milankovitch-cycles #perihelion

science2 months ago•2 min saved

Earth's Closest Approach to the Sun and Its Seasonal Effects

Earth is closest to the Sun at perihelion in January, but it’s winter in the Northern Hemisphere because the planet’s axial tilt causes seasonal changes, not its distance from the Sun. The tilt results in varying sunlight exposure, creating summer and winter, while the elliptical orbit’s slight distance variation has minimal impact on temperatures.

via The Daily Galaxy|

#axial-tilt #earth #orbit

science2 months ago•4 min saved

Earth's Perihelion and Its Impact on Seasons and Sun Observations

Earth's closest approach to the Sun, called perihelion, occurs during winter in the Northern Hemisphere due to the Earth's axial tilt and elliptical orbit, which causes seasonal variations in sunlight exposure. This timing is a coincidence and varies over thousands of years due to gravitational influences and orbital changes.

via IFLScience|

#axial-tilt #earth #orbit