A few months ago, two astronomers observed what appears to be the largest comet seen in the solar system so far. These scientists subsequently carried out a study on this atypical comet listed under the name “C / 2014 UN271”.
It is also known as “Comet Bernardelli-Bernstein”, in reference to astronomers Pedro Bernardinelli and Gary Bernstein, both of whom work at the University of Pennsylvania. Scientists first estimated the size of this comet at 200 kilometers.
But the study, published in The Astrophysical Journal Letters and published on the arXiv preprint repository, reduced its diameter to 150 km.
This comet is larger than most natural satellites
The size of this comet C / 2014 UN271 implies that it could weigh ten times more than comet Hale-Bopp, nicknamed the Great Comet of 1997, reports CNet. To give an idea of the real size of this giant comet, astronomer Will Gâter posted on Twitter a set of illustrations of the various objects in space.
Indeed, it seems that comet Bernardelli-Bernstein is much larger than the largest moon on Mars. More so, if you put the two Martian satellites Phobos and Deimos, one on top of the other, you will find that the recently discovered comet is double the size of the two satellites combined.
C / 2014 UN271 will pass close to the Sun in 2031
In addition, the scientists wished to reassure that there is no risk of this enormous comet colliding with the Earth. However, it would appear that comet C / 2014 UN271 is currently heading towards the inner solar system. It could thus pass close to the Sun in 2031. Scientists are thus ready to observe the spectacle.
For information, comet C / 2014 UN271 was imaged for the first time in October 2014. It was then 4.3 billion kilometers from the Sun and almost as far as Neptune. However, on June 24, 2021, this comet was 3 billion kilometers from the Sun, a distance comparable to that of Uranus. Thus, this comet will reach its closest distance from the Sun in January 2031 where it will be at its perihelion at 1.6 billion kilometers.
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