COMET C/2024 G3(ATLAS) FROM BANGALORE

The most anticipated comet of the year successfully survived its close approach to the Sun on January 13th and even became a daylight comet. It was visible with small optical aids during the daytime, and many amateur astronomers managed to observe and photograph it under daylight conditions. Now, the comet is visible in the western evening skies during twilight hours.

The comet is still bright enough to be seen with the naked eye. To spot it, find a location with a clear horizon, free of obstructions like buildings or trees. This might be a bit challenging in cities like Bangalore. Just after sunset, start scanning the twilight sky for the comet. At first glance, it may appear as a dim, elongated, fuzzy object. As the sky gets darker, the comet will become more prominent. Binoculars can be helpful in spotting it, but remember to wait until the Sun has completely set below the horizon. The chart provided below will aid in locating and tracking the comet in the coming days.

The comet is currently approximately the same distance from us as the Sun—150,000,000 km—and this distance will continue to increase, causing the comet to appear dimmer. For those in Bangalore and nearby areas, the comet is well-placed in the sky; you only need a clear horizon. However, as the comet fades in the coming days and its brightness drops below magnitude 2, light pollution will become a significant factor. Try to observe it from a location with minimal light pollution.

Towards the end of the month, binoculars will be essential for spotting the comet. While it will appear slightly higher in the sky at sunset, it will also be dimmer. A dark sky and optical aids like binoculars or telescopes will greatly enhance your viewing experience at this time.

Bright comets are rare, but when they do appear, they offer a wealth of beauty and valuable insights into the formation of the solar system. Don't miss the opportunity to spot this rare visitor in the evening sky and enjoy the magnificent view.

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Planet Venus High in the Sky

 
On January 10, 2025, Venus will reach its Greatest Eastern Elongation. Venus, the brightest "star" in the evening western skies, outshines everything else. Just after sunset, in the evening twilight, it is easy to spot this diamond in the sky.

Greatest Elongation refers to the largest angle formed between Earth, the Sun, and a planet—in this case, Venus. On this day, Venus will appear 47 degrees away from the Sun as seen from Earth. As both Earth and Venus orbit the Sun, the angle between Venus and the Sun (as viewed from Earth) changes. When the planets align with Venus between Earth and the Sun, the angle is zero, an event known as Inferior Conjunction. Since Venus orbits closer to the Sun and moves faster than Earth, this angle increases, eventually reaching a maximum of 47 degrees. After this point, the angle begins to decrease until it reaches zero again. When Venus aligns on the far side of the Sun relative to Earth, this is called a Superior Conjunction.

At Greatest Eastern Elongation, Venus will display a nearly half-phase and will set late in the evening. As the days pass, the angle between the Sun and Venus will gradually reduce, but Venus's apparent size will increase. The phase will change from half to a crescent as the distance between Venus and Earth decreases.

At Greatest Elongation, Venus's angular size will be 24.6 arcseconds, with the planet located 101,742,566 km from Earth. As Venus continues to approach Earth, its angular size will increase to 46 arcseconds by the end of February, while its distance decreases to 53,967,713 km. Venus will be closest to Earth on March 22, 2025, at a distance of 41,977,162 km, just before reaching Inferior Conjunction on March 23, 2025.

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QUADRANTIDS METEOR SHOWER

 

The new year starts with the Quadrantids meteor shower observations. As with all meteor showers, the name comes from the constellation where the radiant resides (the region where the meteors seem to originate). The Quadrantids meteor shower originates from the constellation Quadrans Muralis, which depicts a quadrant. This constellation no longer exists in the modern adaptation of IAU constellations. The radiant association for the meteor shower was made in the early 1800s, but the parent body responsible wasn't identified until 2003.

P. Jenniskens of the SETI Institute discovered that the minor planet 2003 EH1, found by the Lowell Observatory Near-Earth-Object Search (LONEOS) telescope, was responsible for the Quadrantids meteor shower.

The minor planet 2003 EH1 is an Amor-class asteroid, a type of Near-Earth Asteroid (NEO) that orbits the Sun with a semi-major axis of more than 1 AU and does not cross Earth's orbit. 

2003 EH1 orbits the Sun every 5.52 years, with a perihelion distance of 1.2 AU and an aphelion distance of 5 AU.

The Quadrantids meteor shower peaks on January 3rd at 8:30 PM IST. The number of meteors seen can range from as low as 60 to as high as 200 ZHR (Zenithal Hourly Rate). At Bangalore's latitude, the radiant rises at 2 AM, and the location of the Quadrantids' radiant is above Beta Bootes.

The observation session for the Quadrantids can begin from 1 AM, looking north and towards the zenith away from the radiant. Scanning in and around constellations Ursa Major, Leo, and Virgo will give a good chance of spotting meteors.

Choose a place with a good view of the northern skies and zenith; a house or apartment terrace will work well. Clear skies are essential for good visibility, so check the weather forecast. There is no need for any optical aid, like binoculars or telescopes.

 An early start will help in familiarizing oneself with the skies and constellations. The low brightness of the meteors may pose a challenge, but with patience, one can spot them. To know if the meteor seen is a Quadrantid, draw an imaginary line in the opposite direction, and the line should pass through the radiant location above the Bootes constellation.

 Clear Skies and Happy Observing.

 

 

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