Comet “Leonard” will pass 35 kilometers from Earth and can be admired with the naked eye

November 24, 2021 – 11:09
One or two comets appear every ten to fifteen years. The arrival of Comet Leonard will be a wonderful sight under the open sky. The chance of seeing it would be unique, as its orbit would drive it out of the solar system.

After the longest lunar eclipse of the century, new astronomical events appear in the calendar before the end of 2021. One of the most expected phenomena will be the passing of Comet Leonard, which can be seen with the naked eye in December.

The last comment that impressed the whole world was Neowise, which reached its closest point to Earth, during the year 2020. And now, before the end of 2021, Comet Leonard, which can be admired naked, will visit us. Al-Ain and it will pass 35 kilometers from Earth, according to NASA.

This is Comet Leonard

A comet is a celestial body made of ice, dust, and rocks that revolves around the sun following different elliptical paths. That is why comets pass close to the Earth every certain period of time.

In this case, Leonard follows an elliptical path that passes near the Earth every 80 thousand years, so this opportunity will be unique to admire with the naked eye.

Leonard was first seen on January 3, 2021 from the Mount Lemon Observatory in Arizona. Its trajectory brought it closer than beyond Neptune, and it takes thousands of years to complete a period around the Sun.

Its name corresponds to the name of the astronomer who discovered it, named Greg Leonard. It was he who was able to find the location of this group of dust, ice and rocks; I realized it was between the orbit of Jupiter and Mars, and then headed toward the inner planets of the solar system.

When will comet Leonard pass?

Comet Leonard is at its last stop before it passes close to Earth, its average speed is approaching 70.6 kilometers per second, and it is about to reach Mars’ orbit to approach Earth.

When this happens the comet can be seen with the naked eye before sunrise, and of course the weather conditions must be perfect.

Comet Leonard will position itself close to our planet on December 12, 2021. The moment of closest approach will occur on this date at 5:54 am Argentina time, from which time it can be seen with the naked eye.