U of I professors and students searching for rare comet passing over

URBANA, Ill. (WCIA) — University of Illinois professors and students are looking forward to getting better pictures of a rare comet that’s passing over.

A Professor and Chairman of the Department of Astronomy at the university said what makes comet A3 so rare is the ability to see it with the naked eye.

Professor Tony Wong said the comet has been so deep in the solar system for so long that it still has ice surrounding it. As it gets closer to the sun it’ll warm and then start to evaporate its gasses. This means it’ll create a bright light to where people can view it.

“We are just starting to get a good show now because the comet has already passed the sun. And as it’s moving away from the sun, it’s becoming visible in our night sky. And so that’s why everyone’s looking at it this week, is because it’s becoming visible to our night sky,” U of I Professor Tony Wong said.

He said when the comet was brighter it might’ve been harder to see because of the glare from the sun. Even though it’s getting smaller, it should be easier now because it’s traveling away from the sun.

Wong said this comet won’t appear again for another 80,000 so he’s trying to catch a view of it before it gets out of sight. He says one helpful tip is look towards the west near Venus and look for something fuzzy that has a tail extending upward.

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