A rare astronomical event will be witness by some people in the Earth as a comet as hefty as a small mountain will pass closer to Mars, a phenomena that will occur only once in a million years or so. The rare event will happen this coming Sunday (Monday in Manila), approaching within 140,006 kilometers at a speed of 202,767 kilometers per hour.
According to NASA, the agency’s five robotic explorers stationed at Mars which is composed of three orbiters and two rovers will have a closer look at the upcoming comet. The equipment of NASA are being re-purposed to witness a comet which was named as Siding Spring.
The comet Siding Spring will make its first known visit to the inner solar system. Aside from NASA’s equipment, an European and Indian spacecraft circling the red planet will also witness the event closer compared to the observatories located on the Earth’s surface.
The astronomers from Europe in India noted that their orbiting aircraft will attempt to observe the incoming iceball, then hide behind Mars for protection from potentially dangerous debris in the comet’s tail.
NASA’s rovers, Opportunity and Curiosity will be shielded by the Martian atmosphere during the planet’s passing, the two equipment may well have the best seats in the house, but there’s a tendency that their view could be obscure when a dust storms occur.
Other spacecraft, including the Hubble Space Telescope, are already keeping a sharp lookout for the incoming comet. Ground observatories and research balloons were also deployed by various organizations from different parts of the world.
The comet, Siding Spring, was named for the Australian observatory who used to detect it in January 20133. Siding Spring will approach Mars from beneath and zoom right in front on Sunday afternoon, Eastern Time.
NASA already noted that best viewing on Earth via binoculars or telescope, will be from the southern hemisphere such as South Africa and Australia.
