A new object as bright as the Morning Star is about to appear in Earth's sky

The Tsuchinshan–ATLAS object has been confusing astronomers as it approaches Earth .

According to Space.com, the object, named C/2023 A3 or Tsuchinshan–ATLAS, was discovered by the Asteroid Impact Final Alert System (ATLAS) in South Africa on February 22, 2023.

Tsuchinshan–ATLAS appeared in the Virgo constellation in May but was still too far away so it had to be observed with a telescope - (Photo: SPACE)

Tsuchinshan–ATLAS was initially thought to be an asteroid, but analysis of more detailed images previously taken by the Purple Mountain Observatory (Tsuchinshan) east of Nanjing City - China revealed it to be a comet.

And it is getting closer to the center of the Solar System, which is also closer to Earth.

Comet Tsuchinshan–ATLAS once intrigued astronomers when its orbital eccentricity suggested it was an unprecedented visitor from the Oort cloud, a giant ring-like structure filled with icy and cold objects. located at the edge of the Solar System.

Now, this mysterious object is predicted to become unusually bright in the sky as it passes close to Earth.

It can be easily seen with the naked eye because its brightness is equivalent to Venus, the planet that people often call the Evening star and Morning star.

From the end of July, Tsuchinshan–ATLAS will begin to shine in the skies of the Southern Hemisphere.

Those living in locations far south, such as Australia, New Zealand and South America will be able to watch it begin to "compete" with the Morning Star in the early morning sky, before sunrise.

On October 8, 2024, this comet will reach maximum brightness, equivalent to Venus.

The perihelion of this special object is September 27, while 2 weeks later, on October 12, it will come closest to Earth with a distance of 71 million km.

During this phase, the comet may brighten to second magnitude or possibly even first magnitude on the cometary luminosity scale and may develop a noticeable tail, which can create a scene. Eye-catching statue in the western evening sky.