Newly discovered comet will cross paths with Mars
FEB 27, 2013
DOI: 10.1063/PT.5.026802
New Scientist : In October 2014, a comet is projected to pass by Mars at a distance of 900 000 km. That distance is significantly greater than that of asteroid 2012 DA14, which missed Earth last week by just 34 400 km. However, because the projections are so rough, the comet could end up either striking the planet or missing it by as much as 36 million km. The comet was first identified on 3 January by Robert McNaught at Siding Spring Observatory in New South Wales, Australia. By searching records back to 8 December 2012, astronomers at the Catalina Sky Survey in Arizona were able to find images yielding additional information. In October 2014, observers with small telescopes should be able to see both Mars and the comet side-by-side. Depending on how close the comet passes by the planet, Mars-orbiting satellites and the Martian rovers may also be able to spot it.
© 2013 American Institute of Physics
