A sky show may be just the thing we need in a few weeks and Comet Atlas is expected to deliver.
A tail is starting to develop on the comet, which is officially called C/2019 Y4 (ATLAS), and it’s expected to be bright enough to be visible to the naked eye in a few weeks, Forbes reported.
The tail is made up of dust and gas that glow thanks to the sun.
#Comet ATLAS on March 29th. https://t.co/QaTWFWcA0w A tail is starting to develop. Lets hope it lives up to expectations - a decent comet is long overdue! pic.twitter.com/BuO3iyXhjV
— Damian Peach (@peachastro) March 30, 2020
Right now the comet can be seen through binoculars and telescopes as it goes through Ursa Major and Camelopardalis, Forbes reported.
The comet was first seen in late December. As of last month, it was as bright as an eighth magnitude star, EarthSky said.
Comet C/2019 (ATLAS) will get close to Earth on May 23. It will get close to the sun on May 31, according to EarthSky.
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