The comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS will be visible to the naked eye between October 11 and 15 in the Netherlands. Space experts are expecting a rare spectacle that could only happen once this century. The comet has a “long, beautiful tail,” according to Weeronline.
☄️ Our staff at Paranal Observatory in Chile can't get enough of comet C/2023 A3! This image by Juan Beltrán shows the comet over the Llullaillaco volcano, in the border between Chile and Argentina. 1/ pic.twitter.com/ijLw8Y0zvg
— ESO (@ESO) October 4, 2024
Comets are a kind of sphere that consists of a mixture of ice crystals, dust, and grit.
@SkyandTelescope has an excellent article about what you can expect from Comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS (C/2023 A3). In brief: folks in the northern hemisphere have some good viewing opportunities after sunset beginning about a week from now: https://t.co/yZsgcLYjKG #CometC2023A3
— Dan Falk (@danfalk) October 5, 2024
As soon as a comet comes near the sun, the ice starts to evaporate, creating a characteristic tail of evaporating ice particles around the comet. Weeronline describes this as a “unique opportunity” to see this comet.
The best moment for observation is to look west from October 11, about three-quarters of an hour after sunset. The comet will then be visible just above the horizon. In the following days, Tsuchinshan-ATLAS will be higher in the sky and visible for longer periods.
🌠 Comet C/2024 S1 (ATLAS) is making an epic appearance in October’s night sky! 🔭 From early to late October, this beauty brightens up, getting close to Earth and nearing the Sun. By the end of the month, it could reach a stunning magnitude of -7 or even -10, potentially… pic.twitter.com/VO2owAux3f
— Star Walk (@StarWalk) October 7, 2024
However, as the comet moves further away from Earth, it will become less visible.
Comet’s rare viewership opportunity
Around October 15, the comet will probably no longer be visible.
Comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS) is Now the Brightest Comet in 13 Years!
This incredible comet has overtaken NEOWISE from 2020 in brightness, with current estimates of 0.4 magnitude! The tail is stretching a whopping 15 degrees across the sky—that's equal to the width of 30… pic.twitter.com/pyLNTYm8zh
— Star Walk (@StarWalk) October 5, 2024
The comet will pass closest to Earth on October 12, 2024, at a distance of approximately 44 million miles (71 million kilometers). This specific date is likely the best time to observe the comet, although the window to view it will be brief as it sets about 15 minutes after sunset. Each subsequent night will provide a longer viewing period, with the comet setting roughly 20 minutes later each night until October 18.
During this period, its dusty tail will reflect sunlight back towards Earth, a phenomenon known as “forward scattering,” making the comet more visible to the naked eye. Wael Omar, an astrophotographer based in Egypt, has captured a breathtaking image of Comet C/2023 A3 Tsuchinshan-ATLAS alongside a thin crescent Moon over the iconic Pyramids of Giza. Omar’s composite image, taken on the night of 1 October 2024, showcases the comet’s tail and the crescent Moon beautifully aligned with the pyramids.
Omar faced challenges in finding a high vantage point in Giza without residential buildings obstructing the view. He eventually found a suitable spot 2.7 km west of the pyramids where he could capture both the comet and the Moon in a single frame. Despite the challenges, including manual stacking of around 25 subs for each layer to reveal the comet’s details, Omar successfully captured the stunning scene.
The effort paid off, resulting in a mesmerizing photograph that highlights the celestial event against the backdrop of Egypt’s ancient monuments.
Noah Nguyen is a multi-talented developer who brings a unique perspective to his craft. Initially a creative writing professor, he turned to Dev work for the ability to work remotely. He now lives in Seattle, spending time hiking and drinking craft beer with his fiancee.
