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Through NASA’s solar satellite, amateur astronomers were able to discover a new comet that is currently approaching the Sun. According to their observations, hydrogen has been erupting from the comet’s surface.
The newly found comet has been identified as C / 2020 F8, which is also known as SWAN. It was named after the scientific instrument that detected it.
Discovering a new comet
Alex Cherney [Terrastro, TWAN]
The comet was discovered on April 11 by the Solar Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO), a robotic spacecraft launched by NASA and the European Space Agency to observe the Sun. It was detected using the SOHO instrument known as ANIStropies of the solar wind, or SWAN. While reviewing the images captured with SWAN, a team of amateur astronomers came across the brilliant comet. According to astronomers, the discovery of SWAN was a surprise, especially since the instrument has been designed to detect the presence of hydrogen in space.
Specifically, SOHO uses SWAN to observe the effects of solar winds as they pass through clouds of hydrogen-containing compounds. Since SWAN detected the comet, it could mean that it was producing high levels of hydrogen from its surface.
Detecting SWAN surface eruptions
Gemini Observatory / NSF / AURA / Travis Rector
According to Karl Battams of the Naval Research Laboratory in Washington DC, the comet probably emits hydrogen in the form of water ice. He believes that it was probably caused by a burst or eruption of the comet’s surface.
“For SWAN to see a comet, it means that the comet must be producing a fairly significant amount of hydrogen, often in the form of water ice,” Battams explained. “It is extremely likely that the comet is in ‘explosion’ mode. That is, a large eruption happened to this small, weak comet, releasing a massive cloud of hydrogen-rich volatiles. SWAN is realizing this sudden release of hydrogen. in the inner solar system. “
Current path of Comet SWAN
According to observations on Comet SWAN, the cosmic object currently follows a path that will take it close to the Sun, which is expected to happen in May. After that, the comet will cross the orbits of various planets, including Earth, as it progresses on its journey into deep space.
It is still unclear whether the hydrogen explosions will affect the path of Comet SWAN. If the eruptions continue to occur on the comet, its path to the Sun could change. It is also possible that the comet will end up breaking if the bursts continue.
