You Still Can Experience Comet 45P’s Close Flyby Moment from Earth: NASA

Cheers space enthusiasts! In next few days, you can experience the spectacular celestial event of a comet closely passing by our Mother Planet – Earth. As per the new release of NASA, the emerald comet – Comet 45P is going to pass by the Earth on 1st April 2017 and space enthusiasts can witness the event from the earth through a scientific binocular or telescope.

Comet 45P’s latest perihelion took place on December 31, 2016; and the close flyby of the celestial object with the Earth took place on 11th February of this year. If you missed the event, then this will be a golden chance to enjoy the celestial extravaganza, said the US-based space agency in an official statement. Currently, the Comet 45P is moving in the early morning eastern sky. But because of the full moon, it may be pretty hard to get a clear sight of the celestial object. However, backyard astronomers, by using binoculars and telescopes can get an extravagant and unhindered picture of the comet.

Scientists, by using the Infrared Telescope Facility – owned and operated by NASA, have consistently been observing the comet. The aim behind this observation is to explore the details of the climatic gases, ice particles and dust that are being emitted by the nucleus of Comet 45P, which eventually are tuning up in the coma and tail.

According to NASA, by 2018, there will be three comets which will take close flyby to Earth and Comet 45P is the first of the trio. The close encounter of the Comet 45P with Earth will give stargazers and space enthusiasts a major celestial goal. To get a clear-cut and spectacular sight of this phenomenon, NASA has advised the watchers to make use of scientifically-proven binoculars or telescopes. As this closest encounter won’t be visible from naked eyes, binocular or telescope is a must, said an official of NASA.

As highlighted by the US-based space agency, the same comet – the Comet 45P will take another flyby near to Earth in 2032. However, at that time, the approximate distance between the comet and our Mother Planet will be nearly 48 million kilometres, which means, stargazers from the Earth may not be able to witness the phenomenon.