BEIJING, Sept. 27 (Xinhuanet) -- Astronomers have discovered a comet that will put on a dazzling display with a brightness that could well outshine the full moon when it crosses the night sky in November 2013, according to media reports on Thursday.
The comet ISON was spotted in photographs taken by Russians Vitali Nevski and Artyom Novichonok using a 15.7-inch (0.4-meter) reflecting telescope of the International Scientific Optical Network (ISON), near Kislovodsk, Russia.
It is currently very faint because it is out in the depths of space near Jupiter's orbit, will steadily brighten over the coming months.
The few days surrounding the comet’s closest approach to the sun on Nov. 28, 2013, are likely to be most interesting. It will whirl rapidly around the sun in a hairpin-like curve and perhaps become a dazzlingly bright object.
It could become brighter than the greatest comet of the last century, Comet Ikeya-Seki, which excited astronomers in 1965.
(Agencies)
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