Comet Atlas breaks apart
Comet Atlas appeared in our skies this year and as it gets closer to the Sun it has begun to break apart. JPL now has models for all four objects and this post is to take a look at this to forecast their paths.
NASA JPL search: Find any object tracked here
https://ssd.jpl.nasa.gov/sbdb.cgi#top
C/2019 Y4 (ATLAS)
https://ssd.jpl.nasa.gov/sbdb.cgi?ID=dK19Y040
Trajectory sends it out of the solar system
Now that it has broken apart there are four objects to track!
C/2019 Y4-A (ATLAS)
https://ssd.jpl.nasa.gov/sbdb.cgi?ID=dK19Y04a
It appears that on December 6th we will cross the path of Atlas A after it has left the area. If there are any bits and pieces left in the trail we could get a meteor shower, but this is just speculation in advance.
The view of this image is from under the elliptic plane, with Earth being closer than Mercury.
C/2019 Y4-B (ATLAS)
https://ssd.jpl.nasa.gov/sbdb.cgi?ID=dK19Y04b
This one is very similar from the previous, the view is from above the elliptic plane.
C/2019 Y4-C (ATLAS)
https://ssd.jpl.nasa.gov/sbdb.cgi?ID=dK19Y04c
This one shows the position of Atlas C crossing Earth's path as seen from below the elliptic.
C/2019 Y4-D (ATLAS)
https://ssd.jpl.nasa.gov/sbdb.cgi?ID=dK19Y04d
These final orbital model shows Atlas D at its closest approach to Earth on May 23 2020
And a few days later its closest approach to the sun, on May 31 2020
Assuming these models are correct, they will all carry on another 6000 years orbit out towards the unknown, to return again perhaps or not, sometime in the year 8020.
More information on Comet Atlas at TheSkyLive
