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This Sunday, December 16, the world will get front-row seats to the clearest view of a super rare natural phenomenon.
Comet 46P/Wirtanen – dubbed the 'Christmas Comet' – will be visible to the naked eye as it blazes across earth's skies over several days, reaching its closest distance to our planet on December 16.
First discovered by American Astronomer Carl Wirtanen in California on January 17, 1948, 46P/Wirtanen is one of the 10 recorded comets to have made very close approaches to earth. Only a few of these comets – including 46P/Wirtanen – were bright enough to be seen with the naked eye.
Significance of the Christmas comet on December 16
The 46P/Wirtanen comet event this weekend is such a big deal because of how close to earth it will pass. It will come within 11.5 million kilometres from earth's surface on December 16, providing gazers with a rare opportunity to see it without the aid of telescopic equipment.
"It's part of a group called the Jupiter group of comets, because it extends out almost to Jupiter's orbit," astronomer Professor Fred Watson told 9Honey Travel.
"The Wirtanen comet comes up every 5.4 years but when you wrap the earth's orbit into that, it appears in our skies much more infrequently. But the best part is that it's around Christmas, and is going to be relatively bright."
In fact, the last time this particular comet came this close to the earth's surface was 70 years ago.
It has both professional and amateur astronomers from around the globe excited, and is said to be visible to anyone in the north-eastern sky for about an hour and a half after sunset until early morning.
A double astronomical phenomenon
The Christmas comet isn't the only astronomical spectacle this month, with a meteor shower also expected to light up the skies this weekend.
"There are meteor showers throughout the year and they are all associated with the dust clouds of various comets," said Prof Watson. "In fact we go through one this weekend, called the Geminid meteor shower, that's why this weekend is so important, it's a double astronomical event."
"The Geminid meteor shower doesn't come from a comet, but rather a dusty asteroid. Earth passes through the orbit of this asteroid every December, and what happens is you we get a meteor shower."
The best time to watch the Geminid meteor shower in Australia
Keen to get the very best view of the Geminid meteor shower? It will peak around midnight on Friday, December 14 (AEDT) and will last a couple of weeks, but the most productive (and best times to tune in) on Friday are listed below.
Brisbane: around 9pm (AEST)
Sydney: around 10:30pm (AEDT)
Canberra: after 10:40pm (AEDT)
Melbourne: just after 11pm (AEDT)
Hobart: around 11:20pm (AEDT)
Darwin: around 9:30pm (ACST)
Adelaide: just before 11pm (ACDT)
Perth: just before 10pm (AWST)
The best time to view the Christmas comet in Australia
"The closest it's going to be [to earth] is this weekend on December 16," according to Prof Watson. "It's in our skies at the moment but is barely visible with binoculars, it will brighten up as we get nearer to the weekend."
The best time to look for the comet would be any time after 10pm, but as the week goes on, the moon will get much brighter, and with too much moonlight in the sky, you just won't see the comet. However, if you're willing to stay up, there is a time you're more likely to catch a glimpse.
"On the weekend, the best time to see [the Christmas Comet] will be in the northern sky after midnight, because that's when the moon will set," said Prof Watson. "It will be pretty well invisible in our latitude after the weekend."
Where to see the Christmas comet
If you're keen on seeing the Christmas comet in all its glory, it might pay to escape the city this weekend.
"Because this object is quite large but faint in the sky, it easily blends into the sky's background," said Prof Watson. "So if you've got light pollution that pretty much can make the difference between seeing it and not seeing it."
You'll be able to catch a glimpse of the comet in any of Australia's cities, but the further north you go, the higher the object will appear in the sky.
However, before you book flights to Far North Queensland, note tropical climates aren't ideal for sky gazing, according to Prof Watson.
"If you were to go to the tropics, the conditions there aren't all too clear, with a lot of cloud around."
The main two enemies in seeing the comet will be cloud and light pollution.
"You don't have to go far in Australia to get away from light pollution, even escaping to the suburbs will give you a better view."
Best part of the world to view the Christmas comet
We here in Australia will be able to see the comet (weather permitting) but other places in the world will get to experience a bigger and brighter version.
"[The view] will be best in the Northern Hemisphere because it's actually heading into the northern sky on the weekend," said Prof Watson.
"Objects this close tend to move quite quickly through the sky, and this one is heading north quite quickly."
How to see the Christmas comet
The best thing about this particular comet is that you don't need to get your hands on a telescope to get a decent look. However, there are ways to make your view a little more spectacular, such as viewing through a telescope.
"The best type of telescope to look at this with is one with a big lens, but not much magnification," said Prof Watson. "What that does is it gives you a wide field of view, and that's what you want when looking for something that's quite faint."
As for photographers using a DSLR camera and hoping to get some snaps, he said there's a good chance you'd pick it up using a wide lens.
Is it safe to view the Christmas comet?
Unlike with a solar event, comet or meteor shower spectators aren't vulnerable to eye damage.
"It's not like an eclipse or anything where you have to watch out for the light. Even at its brightest, it's totally safe to view," said Prof Watson.
Mark your calendars for this Sunday, December 16, and hope for clear skies for your best chance of catching a glimpse of the Christmas comet.
https://travel.nine.com.au/2018/12/12/10/21/where-to-view-christmas-comet-wirtanen-46p-this-weekend
Comet 46P/Wirtanen – dubbed the 'Christmas Comet' – will be visible to the naked eye as it blazes across earth's skies over several days, reaching its closest distance to our planet on December 16.
First discovered by American Astronomer Carl Wirtanen in California on January 17, 1948, 46P/Wirtanen is one of the 10 recorded comets to have made very close approaches to earth. Only a few of these comets – including 46P/Wirtanen – were bright enough to be seen with the naked eye.
Significance of the Christmas comet on December 16
The 46P/Wirtanen comet event this weekend is such a big deal because of how close to earth it will pass. It will come within 11.5 million kilometres from earth's surface on December 16, providing gazers with a rare opportunity to see it without the aid of telescopic equipment.
"It's part of a group called the Jupiter group of comets, because it extends out almost to Jupiter's orbit," astronomer Professor Fred Watson told 9Honey Travel.
"The Wirtanen comet comes up every 5.4 years but when you wrap the earth's orbit into that, it appears in our skies much more infrequently. But the best part is that it's around Christmas, and is going to be relatively bright."
In fact, the last time this particular comet came this close to the earth's surface was 70 years ago.
It has both professional and amateur astronomers from around the globe excited, and is said to be visible to anyone in the north-eastern sky for about an hour and a half after sunset until early morning.
A double astronomical phenomenon
The Christmas comet isn't the only astronomical spectacle this month, with a meteor shower also expected to light up the skies this weekend.
"There are meteor showers throughout the year and they are all associated with the dust clouds of various comets," said Prof Watson. "In fact we go through one this weekend, called the Geminid meteor shower, that's why this weekend is so important, it's a double astronomical event."
"The Geminid meteor shower doesn't come from a comet, but rather a dusty asteroid. Earth passes through the orbit of this asteroid every December, and what happens is you we get a meteor shower."
The best time to watch the Geminid meteor shower in Australia
Keen to get the very best view of the Geminid meteor shower? It will peak around midnight on Friday, December 14 (AEDT) and will last a couple of weeks, but the most productive (and best times to tune in) on Friday are listed below.
Brisbane: around 9pm (AEST)
Sydney: around 10:30pm (AEDT)
Canberra: after 10:40pm (AEDT)
Melbourne: just after 11pm (AEDT)
Hobart: around 11:20pm (AEDT)
Darwin: around 9:30pm (ACST)
Adelaide: just before 11pm (ACDT)
Perth: just before 10pm (AWST)
The best time to view the Christmas comet in Australia
"The closest it's going to be [to earth] is this weekend on December 16," according to Prof Watson. "It's in our skies at the moment but is barely visible with binoculars, it will brighten up as we get nearer to the weekend."
The best time to look for the comet would be any time after 10pm, but as the week goes on, the moon will get much brighter, and with too much moonlight in the sky, you just won't see the comet. However, if you're willing to stay up, there is a time you're more likely to catch a glimpse.
"On the weekend, the best time to see [the Christmas Comet] will be in the northern sky after midnight, because that's when the moon will set," said Prof Watson. "It will be pretty well invisible in our latitude after the weekend."
Where to see the Christmas comet
If you're keen on seeing the Christmas comet in all its glory, it might pay to escape the city this weekend.
"Because this object is quite large but faint in the sky, it easily blends into the sky's background," said Prof Watson. "So if you've got light pollution that pretty much can make the difference between seeing it and not seeing it."
You'll be able to catch a glimpse of the comet in any of Australia's cities, but the further north you go, the higher the object will appear in the sky.
However, before you book flights to Far North Queensland, note tropical climates aren't ideal for sky gazing, according to Prof Watson.
"If you were to go to the tropics, the conditions there aren't all too clear, with a lot of cloud around."
The main two enemies in seeing the comet will be cloud and light pollution.
"You don't have to go far in Australia to get away from light pollution, even escaping to the suburbs will give you a better view."
Best part of the world to view the Christmas comet
We here in Australia will be able to see the comet (weather permitting) but other places in the world will get to experience a bigger and brighter version.
"[The view] will be best in the Northern Hemisphere because it's actually heading into the northern sky on the weekend," said Prof Watson.
"Objects this close tend to move quite quickly through the sky, and this one is heading north quite quickly."
How to see the Christmas comet
The best thing about this particular comet is that you don't need to get your hands on a telescope to get a decent look. However, there are ways to make your view a little more spectacular, such as viewing through a telescope.
"The best type of telescope to look at this with is one with a big lens, but not much magnification," said Prof Watson. "What that does is it gives you a wide field of view, and that's what you want when looking for something that's quite faint."
As for photographers using a DSLR camera and hoping to get some snaps, he said there's a good chance you'd pick it up using a wide lens.
Is it safe to view the Christmas comet?
Unlike with a solar event, comet or meteor shower spectators aren't vulnerable to eye damage.
"It's not like an eclipse or anything where you have to watch out for the light. Even at its brightest, it's totally safe to view," said Prof Watson.
Mark your calendars for this Sunday, December 16, and hope for clear skies for your best chance of catching a glimpse of the Christmas comet.
https://travel.nine.com.au/2018/12/12/10/21/where-to-view-christmas-comet-wirtanen-46p-this-weekend
