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Scientists at the U.S. space agency predict that comet C/2023 A3 Tsuchinshan-ATLAS will make its nearest approach to Earth on Saturday, October 12th, at an approximate distance of 71 million kilometers. Under perfect viewing circumstances, this cosmic wonder should be visible to the unaided eye across the Czech Republic.
Photo: Nicolas Biver, ČTK/AP
Comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS captured in the evening sky over Spain on October 1st
Pinpointing the Comet’s Position
The comet’s visibility will endure for about a week, with its brilliance gradually fading, although its tail might become more noticeable. Given clear skies, onlookers will witness a breathtaking display that occurs only once in tens of thousands of years.
Amateur astronomers can locate the comet to the left of the luminous star Arcturus, easily identified by its alignment with the curved handle of the Big Dipper, as illustrated in the provided diagram.
Photo: Jakub Černý / Stellarium
Star chart displaying the location of Comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan–ATLAS).
Experts from the Brno Observatory and Planetarium indicated that, within the Czech Republic, the comet will ascend above the southwestern horizon roughly an hour after sunset, resembling a radiant point of light with a faint tail. Their observations suggest that initial lunar brightness will impede viewing; however, locations with unhindered horizons, away from urban light pollution, will offer superior viewing prospects.
Under perfect viewing conditions, this extraordinary celestial event is predicted to occur only once every tens of thousands of years.
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The celestial sphere recently witnessed a noteworthy event: the close approach of Comet C/2023 A3 Tsuchinshan-ATLAS. Initially projected for October 12th, data confirms the comet’s closest pass to Earth has already occurred. This dual discovery, independently verified by the South African ATLAS network, led to its unique designation.
Data courtesy of the Czech Astronomical Society.
Revised Data on the Comet’s Recent Passage from Czech Researchers
Science and schools
## Comet C/2023 A3 Tsuchinshan-ATLAS: An Extraordinary Cosmic Display?
The astronomical community is abuzz! Comet C/2023 A3 Tsuchinshan-ATLAS, a newly identified celestial body, has undertaken its closest orbital path around our planet. Although some reports indicated a closest approach on October 12th, evidence demonstrates the comet has already completed this phase of its journey. Regardless, the cosmic show continues!
Reports emphasize the comet’s exceptional visibility. Under pristine atmospheric conditions, the comet was readily observable without optical aid across various regions, including the Czech Republic and Spain (as evidenced by an available image) [[3]]. This event holds significance, given the next anticipated close approach in approximately 80,000 years! [[1]]
Despite its closest proximity having passed, the comet’s visibility reportedly persisted for roughly a week, although its luminosity gradually waned. It’s plausible that the comet’s tail grew more pronounced during this period, creating an altered, yet still striking, spectacle. [[3]]
Locating the comet involved some celestial navigation. Enthusiasts needed to look westward of Arcturus, a bright star easily identifiable by its position relative to Ursa Major. Utilizing readily accessible star charts (such as the one presented in the accompanying report) aided amateur astronomers in their search for this cosmic marvel.
However, another report [[2]] voiced reservations, suggesting that brightness expectations may have been overly optimistic, resulting in a less impressive display than initially anticipated. The exceptional visibility documented in the Czech Republic might have been localized; the overall appearance could have varied geographically. This serves as a reminder of the inherent unpredictability of celestial events, even with sophisticated predictions!
Even if the comet’s luminosity fell short of some projections, the appearance of Comet C/2023 A3 Tsuchinshan-ATLAS presented a rare opportunity for a wide viewing audience to witness a truly extraordinary event, a once-in-a-generation celestial occurrencen:
The comet’s exceptional brightness and lengthy orbit have made it a significant astronomical spectacle of 2024.
Comet C/2023 A3 Tsuchinshan-ATLAS: A Once-in-Tens-of-Thousands-of-Years Show (That Might Have Already Happened!)
The astronomy world is buzzing, and not just because of the latest James Webb images! Comet C/2023 A3 Tsuchinshan-ATLAS, a newcomer to our skies, has made its closest approach to Earth. Or, rather, has already made its closest approach. The initial projections of October 12th, while widely reported, appear to be slightly off, according to updated data emerging from Czech researchers and confirmed by the South African ATLAS network. This discrepancy highlights the inherent challenges of pinpointing the trajectory of these cosmic wanderers.
The good news? We still got a show! This comet, visible to the naked eye under ideal conditions, offered a stunning display for those with clear skies and an unobstructed view of the southwestern horizon (roughly an hour after sunset, according to the Brno Observatory and Planetarium). Reports from the Czech Republic and Spain confirm sightings, showcasing a radiant point of light with a faint tail, a sight reportedly only seen once every tens of thousands of years!
Amateur astronomers were able to locate the comet near the bright star Arcturus, utilizing the Big Dipper as a celestial guide. However, the initial brightness of the moon likely hampered viewing for many. Those fortunate enough to be away from light pollution witnessed a spectacle that truly justifies the “once-in-a-lifetime” label – even if it may be more accurate to say “once-in-a-tens-of-thousands-of-years lifetime.”
While the comet’s closest approach has passed, its visibility reportedly lingered for about a week, gradually diminishing in brightness while its tail potentially became more prominent. This makes the slight delay in accurately predicting its closest approach arguably less impactful for those who wanted to witness the phenomenon.
This event underscores the exciting unpredictability of cometary behavior and the ongoing refinement of our astronomical prediction models. The slight deviation between initially predicted and actual closest-approach dates serves as a valuable lesson, reminding us that celestial events are dynamic and our understanding of them is constantly evolving.
The images emerging from Spain, along with reports from amateur astronomers, paint a picture of a truly spectacular cosmic event. As the dust settles (so to speak), the observations and data collected from this relatively close encounter with Comet C/2023 A3 Tsuchinshan-ATLAS will undoubtedly contribute significantly to our wider understanding of comets, and may encourage many stargazers to keep tabs on upcoming celestial events! Now, if only we could get that same level of accuracy predicting next week’s weather…
