A newly discovered Comet C/2023 A3 or Tsuchinshan ATLAS is visible in the Skies from September 27. The comet was visible in the eastern skies just an hour before sunrise till October 4, but it has now vanished into the Sun’s glare and will be visible again in the western skies after sunset.

Why is it so special?

The comet is exceptionally bright due to its composition and other characteristics, making it shine even more colourful than the stars when it approaches Earth.

About The Comet:

• The comet is passing close to the Sun after 80,000 Years.
• The comet passed 35 million miles from the Sun on September 27, 2024.
• The comet was first discovered by Purple Mountain Observatory, China on 9 January 2023, and The Asteroid Impact Last Alert System (ATLAS), Africa.
• While it’s the Closest Approach it will be as Bright as Venus (Evening Star) and Sirius (Brightest Star).

Orbital path

C/2023 A3 is a comet with a huge orbit, which passes through the outer solar orb to the solar system’s planets. It is on its way into the Sun and will make the nearest approach, referred to as perihelion sometime in the year.

Physical characteristics

The nucleus of Comet C/2023 A3 contains ice, dust, or even rocks; these materials came from the solar system’s formation. As the comet approaches the sun, the intense heat disintegrates the ice into gas and dust, forming the coma, a luminous halo around the nucleus.

The solar wind in turn swings this material out into a tail that can be some million kilometers long.

Discovery of comet C/2023 A3

C/2023 A3 is a Comet detected and observed by the Tsuchinshan Observatory in China and the ATLAS Project. Thus, the name “Tsuchinshan ATLAS” includes the doubled discovery.

Tsuchinshan, also called Purple Mountain Observatory has had a firm background in astronomy, on the other hand, ATLAS is an advanced, fully automated efficient system to detect near-Earth objects.

Technical aspects of Comet C/2023 A3

Viewing times and locations

Comet C/2023 A3 is visible for stargazers for quite some time, especially when it reached perihelion or the closest point to the sun. This period is scheduled from September 27 to October 15.

Based on location, the comet is observed in both the northern and southern hemispheres. The best view will be seen in regions with low light pollution, or dark sky locations would be ideal for Skygazing conditions.

Necessary equipment

The comet’s position, appearance, and overall form may all be seen with the naked eye, but a binocular or telescope is advised for a clear view of the coma and tail.

If you want to photograph this gorgeous comet, you’ll need a camera with manual controls and a solid tripod.

A remote shutter release or a timer plays a crucial role in getting crisp images as it will eliminate any camera shake, and it provides the ability to shoot for longer periods retaining the motion and appearance of the comet.

Previous comet sightings

The list of comets detected and reported in history is long. It is possible to point out that Comets like Halley, Hale-Bopp, etc are those that have been spotted by the naked eye and recorded scientifically.

Modern astronomers employ both telescopes and space probes to capture continuity images and data from comets that can include aspects like the chemical composition and behaviour patterns of these space objects.