(WWJ) -- An object heading toward Earth has received a lot of attention lately.
Theories surrounding the object, which has been named 31/ATLAS, started circulating when a Harvard astronomer speculated that some of the movement didn’t appear to be natural. Other astronomers said everyone they’re seeing can be explained with regular orbital physics.
Mike Narlock, head of the Astronomy Department at the Cranbrook, told WWJ that the object is expected to be an interstellar comet. Interstellar comets are so named because they come from outside of our solar system.
31/ATLAS is expected to get no closer than 1.8 astronomical units. An astronomical unit is the distance between the Sun and Earth, around 93 million miles. That means the comet won’t get closer than around 200 million miles.
It’s currently a very early morning object. Narlock said someone would need a very powerful telescope and knowledge of its location, adding that it’s not easy to find.
The only way someone would be able to see it with the naked eye or a pair of binoculars would be if 31/ATLAS brightened to a significant degree.
Narlock said to expect objects in the sky to be misidentified as cell phone cameras become better. Cameras currently have a hard time taking photos in low light, which can cause confusion when someone is trying to figure out what they’re looking at.
There are multiple posts on social media that misidentify objects, including planets and comets.
For those who are upset they won’t be able to see 31/ATLAS, there is a meteor shower coming up.
The Leonid Meteor Shower will peak Nov. 17 and 18, with
The Cranbrook Institute is hosting an overnight event about the meteor shower on Nov. 15. It runs from 7:30 p.m. until 8 a.m. Nov. 16. Organizers expect there to be up to 10 to 15 meteors every hour. A full list of the activities going on during the family friendly event can be found here. Preregistration is required. Tickets are $93 for members and $110 for nonmembers.