Will it be the comet of the century, or will it simply fizzle as it zips closer to the sun?
Astronomers are not sure what will become of Comet ISON, which has generated plenty of buzz since it was discovered by Russian astronomers about a year ago.
Because of ISON鈥檚 size and brightness at a great distance from the sun, it鈥檚 given sky-watchers plenty to be excited about.
鈥淲hen astronomers predicted how it would brighten when it got closer to the sun at end of November, the numbers were showing it could be as bright as the moon,鈥� says Randy Attwood, managing editor of Space Quarterly Magazine and senior editor of Spaceref.com.
Attwood told CTV鈥檚 Canada AM on Tuesday that if the comet does survive its approach to the sun, it could provide a stunning show on Earth.
But he warns a lot could change before then.
鈥淚t鈥檚 going to be cooking as it passes around the sun,鈥� Attwood said. 鈥淲e don鈥檛 know if it鈥檚 going to survive.鈥�
Attwood said as the ice melts, the comet will release dust which gives it its tail.
He said if ISON does survive, it could be visible in the early-morning sky in November and December.
鈥淛ust before 7 a.m. in the morning, we鈥檒l be able to look in the east and see a comet with a tail,鈥� Attwood said.
He warns, however, that expectations ISON will light up the morning sky may be too high.
Compared with original estimates, ISON is already dimmer than expected.
Nevertheless, Attwood said the anticipation surrounding ISON is similar to the excitement preceding comet Kohoutek in 1973.
Hyped as the comet of that century at the time, Kohoutek turned out to be what Attwood described as: 鈥淎 little, itty bitty smug in the sky.鈥�
鈥淧eople are concerned ISON may do the same thing,鈥� he added.
Space watchers can follow ISON鈥檚 journey .
