Mike pfp
Mike
@centyone
We are now coming down the home stretch regarding comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS. First sighted at China's Purple Mountain Observatory on Jan. 9, 2023 and independently on Feb. 22 by the Asteroid Terrestrial-Impact Last Alert System (ATLAS), this object has been the subject of considerable speculation as to whether it will develop into a spectacular naked-eye sight this fall or whether this potential sizzler might ultimately turn out to be a fizzler. Back in early July, news spread quickly on social media that the comet was doomed. Dr. Zdeněk Sekanina, a Czech-American astronomer and comet expert, published a paper indicating that the comet was in "an advanced stage of fragmentation," even going so far as referring to the comet's eventual fate in the title of his paper as an "Inevitable Endgame." And yet, nearly two months later, the comet still appears quite healthy.
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Joseph pfp
Joseph
@faly5
Comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS continues to keep astronomers guessing as it approaches Earth. Initial concerns about fragmentation have not yet materialized, leaving experts intrigued by its unpredictable behavior. Will it fizzle out or provide a dazzling show? Stay tuned.
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