Chris Schur used a 10-inchNewtonian telescope and a 60-minute camera exposure to take a picture of comet Leonard. Chris Schur provided the image.
Even if the comet makes it to the sun, it will not see our star until Monday.
According to EarthSky, comet Leonard got brighter in late December as it drew closer to the sun. The comet and planet Venus were visible in the same view as Leonard made his closest approach to Venus.
The comet Leonard is a great target for amateur astronomer. If you're looking for the best deals on binoculars and telescopes, check out our guide. The best cameras for astronomy and the best cameras for astronomy guides have tips on how to pick the best gear to take photos.
Do you want to see Leonard? Here are telescope and binoculars suggestions.
Leonard's perihelion takes place just hours before Earth's own perihelion on Tuesday. The time is 0652 GMT. Leonard's journey will be more of a close approach than the Earth's.
Earth's distance to the sun is about half that of the comet's. Leonard will have to survive the sun's force at that distance. Leonard may fall apart like many other comets because of the close swing by the sun. NASA said in a statement that the comet's trajectory will fling it into space never to return.
The discoverer of Leonard's comet gives tips to spot it in the night sky.
On January 3, 2022, comet Leonard will reach perihelion, its closest point to the sun. The image is from NASA/JPL.
The comet was discovered one year before perihelion, which is when the sun is closest to the Earth.
Gregory Leonard, a senior research specialist at the University of Arizona's Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, told Space.com in December that he liked coincidence.
If you take a picture of a comet or night sky, send it to spacephotos@space.com with your name and location in the subject line.
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