A large comet coming from the corner of the solar system is approaching Earth

Scientists have been following the 2014 space rock UN271 for the past few years, considering it to be a massive comet. The object is currently approaching the sun and is expected to reach its closest point to an extraordinary revolution in 2031.

The comet identified in the dark energy survey data captured between 2014 and 2018 is 2014 UN271. Quantitative estimates show that it can be measured 100 to 370 km Diameter. If so, it is one of the largest comets ever identified. What’s more, this discovery is very exciting because the material comes to us from the boundary of the solar system.

A comet from orbit. Cloud

There are actually two types of comets. On the one hand, we have “short-lived” comets (3 to 15 years). Everyone is formed around the sun copper belt, Large circles of small objects formed outside the orbit Neptune, Prepared by 30 to 55 solar astronomical units. Note that astronomical units are equal to or less than 150 million kilometers from the Earth-Sun distance.

Finally, we have “long-lived” comets that are not found anywhere else in the first place, sometimes traveling through the inner solar system before reaching space. Dutch astronomer John Ord finally calculated that one day there must be a huge ice cloud beyond the Khyber belt 5,000 and 100,000 astronomical units The sun that forms these objects. This belt is “Ort Cloud”. So, UN271 2014 came out of the cloud, still a mystery.

A journey of over 600,000 years

The formation of these objects is distant, and the comets that form within them take hundreds or thousands of years to complete their orbital journeys around the sun. The objects we are interested in today complete our stellar tour 612 190 years. Fortunately, we can get very close to the earth during this extraordinary revolution.

Currently, UN271 2014 is located twenty-two astronomical units (AU) below the Sun. This means the comet is closer than Neptune at 29.7 AU. According to estimates, it should reach the closest point of this extraordinary income. In 2031The year he passed Less than 10.9 AU from the sun. At this point it almost reaches orbit Saturn.

Meanwhile, researchers predict that the hairline (or comma) marking the comet’s approach to the sun’s heat and its tail will form UN271 in 2014. This intimacy will give rise to an unprecedented view of this object as part of our more mysterious astronomy system. .

After passing the Saturn level, UN271 will again depart for the Ort cloud in 2014. We will never see it again.

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