Comet Elenin Gets Ready for Inner Solar System Visit

Currently located some 274 million kilometers (170 million miles) away from Earth, the comet Elenin is getting ready to visit the inner solar system this autumn. The celestial object caused some stir when it was found, as the first observations were carried out in December 2010.

The object was not detected earlier because it's part of a group of comets that have a very long period. This means that they spend a lot of time out of sight, and only visit the inner planets at very long intervals. Elenin is known among astronomers as C/2010 X1.

Four and a half months ago, the comet was located some 647 million kilometers (401 million miles) away from Earth, but it managed to eat up most of that distance in a very short time. Astronomers calculate that there is no risk of the object hitting our planet.

The comet was discovered using the Mayhill, New Mexico-based ISON-NM observatory, by astronomer Leonid Elenin, from Lyubertsy, Russia. After the original shock of finding it so close to Earth, experts took heart when they calculated its trajectory.

“That is what happens with these long-period comets that come in from way outside our planetary system,” explains the chief of the NASA Near-Earth Object (NEO) Program Office, Don Yeomans.

“They make these long, majestic, speedy arcs through our solar system, and sometimes they put on a great show. But not Elenin. Right now that comet looks kind of wimpy,” adds the expert, who holds an appointment with the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), in Pasadena, California.

In astronomical terms, this means that observers interested in viewing this comet as it flies past our planet will need to take extra steps to do so. They will need good binoculars, a dark location and a clear sky to view the object.

“Some cometary visitors arriving from beyond the planetary region – like Hale-Bopp in 1997 – have really lit up the night sky where you can see them easily with the naked eye as they safely transit the inner-solar system,” Yeomans explains.

Data available to astronomers at this point indicate that the comet will make its closest pass on October 16, when its trajectory takes it some 35 million kilometers (22 million miles) away from Earth.

However, experts are excited at the prospect of seeing this comet. Despite it being fairly small, it may provide insight into how bodies of this type form outside of our solar system's planetary area.

“This comet may not put on a great show. Just as certainly, it will not cause any disruptions here on Earth. But there is a cause to marvel,” Yeomans explains.

“This intrepid little traveler will offer astronomers a chance to study a relatively young comet that came here from well beyond our solar system's planetary region. After a short while, it will be headed back out again, and we will not see or hear from Elenin for thousands of years,” he concludes.