Comet C/2019 Y4 (Atlas)

Comet C/2019 Y4 (Atlas) is fast approaching for a meltdown rendezvous with the Sun at its closest approach around 31st May 2019 when it may brighten to magnitude -1 and will be visible to the naked eye. It is currently magnitude 8 and passing between the constellations Ursa Major and Camelopardis. It may be the brightest comet we have seen for a while and is worth keeping track of. At the moment you can only see it with a larger telescope and some imaging to bring out the detail in the bright surrounding coma and short tail.

Above: Comet C/2019 Y4 (Atlas) at centre of photo passing the 5.3 magnitude G7IIb star HIP40215 (top right of comet) in Ursa Major. The faint comet tail is to the bottom right. Image taken 23.45-12.00 28/3/19 Mayhill, New Mexico, USA UTC -6. T14 Tak FSQ ED 106, SBIG Universal camera 7×60 seconds Lum. Processed in Deepskystacker and Photoshop Elements with Astro Tools

Above: A view of the projected path of Comet C/2019 Y4 through the Solar System in the next few months.