There Easter comet It really came. Is called Swan25fand it is a new celestial guest who could soon become visible even without tools, simply by raising his eyes to heaven. It was discovered in a completely fascinating way: the Australian astrophy Michael Mattiazzo identified it by scrutinizing the images captured by the tool Swanmounted aboard the probe Soina joint space mission Ex-nasa dedicated to the study of the sun.
The name “Swan25f” is still temporary, because the official designation by the Minor Planet Centerbut the comet has already made people talk about himself. And with good reasons.
Is growing with brightness and tips straight towards the sun
To tell the latest updates is Gianluca Masiastrophysical and scientific manager of Virtual Telescope Projectwhich follows the phenomenon with great attention: “At this moment it can be observed before dawnvery low on the north-east horizon, among the stars of the constellation of Pegasus. From Italy the best moment is around the 4:55 in the morningwhen the comet is located at about 10 degrees of height. Unfortunately – he adds – precisely at that time the sky begins to lighten, making the observation more complicated “.
Despite this, the comet has already breached the heart of the Astronomy enthusiastswhich in these days are competing to immortalize it through amateur telescopes. And the good news does not end there: Swan25f is moving slowly north and, according to the forecasts, From 24-25 April it will also be visible in the eveningwhen the observation conditions are much more favorable.
The element that is turning on hope is the increase in its brightness. In the last two daysin fact, Swan25f showed a sudden flicker of lightwhich could indicate an increasing activity, just as it approaches the perihelion – the point of its orbit closest to the sun – expected around the May 1st.
Experts do not exclude visibility to the naked eye
Also Nick Jamesfrom the British Astronomical Associationconfirms that the current trend is promising:
The comet is rapidly increasing with brightness, but it is still too early to make certain predictions. Other days are needed to confirm this trend.
However, if this trend should continue, The Easter comet could be visible to the naked eye By the end of April, perhaps right in the evening sky, offering everyone – not only to experts – the opportunity to attend a rare and moving show. A gift from the sky, which invites us once again to slow down and look up.
