Preliminary analysis of its trajectory indicates that the comet, originating from the Oort cloud, completes an orbit around the Sun every 80,660 years. The Comet of the Century was named this because astronomers consider it to be “potentially spectacular” due to its trajectory and the brilliance of its tail.
It was discovered in 2023, but in late September and early October 2024 its trajectory will head towards the Sun, which will increase its temperature. This will cause the ice to evaporate and release dust that will appear as a long, bright tail.
When will the Comet of the Century be seen in Argentina?
According to Star Walk, the comet A3 Tsuchinshan Atlas, popularly known as the Comet of the Century, can be seen throughout the world, but its visibility will be greater in the southern hemisphere of the Earth, which includes countries such as Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Brazil, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Indonesia.
The closest approach to the Sun will be on September 28, 2024, and it will be visible on Earth from October 13 to 24: it can be observed with the naked eye or with binoculars. On October 13th the Comet of the Century will be at its brightest, so during the evening you will be able to observe it from different points or you can follow its trajectory on the website of Star Walk.
After approaching the Sun, the comet will rotate close to the Earth and, at the end of November, it will gradually lose its brightness because it will begin to move away from our planet. Although there is no exact time to observe this astronomical phenomenon, it is recommended to try to view it early in the morning: between 5:30 and 7:00 a.m.
What is the Comet of the Century and why is it so special?
The Comet of the Century was discovered on January 9, 2023, that’s why its name begins with the letter “A” and the number 3 is because it was the third space object of this type found in that period. Tsuchinschan Atlas is a tribute to the Purple Mountain Observatory (Zijingshan Astronomical Observatory) and the Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System (ATLAS), which were key to its discovery.
The comet is currently located between the orbits of Jupiter and Mars at an approximate speed of 180,610 miles per hour (290,664 km/h), regarding 80.74 km per second, relative to Earth.
These types of comets are composed mainly of ice, dust and rock, and when they get close enough to the Sun, the heat causes a kind of sublimation of the materials they are composed of, which causes a diffuse atmosphere and a tail to form that can be seen from Earth.
The reason it has been called the Comet of the Century is due to its exceptional brilliance, among other notable features. Comets that pass close to the Sun tend to have the most impressive tails, and this is the case with Comet of the Century.
Recommendations for observing the Comet of the Century
This comet can be seen with the naked eye from Argentina in October, when it passes closest to Earth, although it can be carried out some practices to enjoy in a better way of this unique astronomical phenomenon.
The first thing you can do is look for spaces where you can fully appreciate the sky, so as not to miss a single detail of this comet, and it is recommended to go to open spaces.
Another detail that also influences is the pollution and the climate from the place from which you intend to observe the Comet of the Century, since if they are not in optimal conditions for that day, you may not be able to fully enjoy this event.
Comet of the Century: When to See it in Argentina
Preliminary analysis of its trajectory indicates that the comet, which comes from the Oort cloud, completes an orbit around the Sol every 80,660 years. The Comet of the Century was named this because astronomers consider it to be “potentially spectacular” due to its trajectory and the shine that leaves its tail behind it.
This comet was discovered in 2023, but in late September and early October 2024 its trajectory will head towards the Sun, which will increase its temperature. This will cause the ice to evaporate and release dust that will appear as a long, bright tail.
When will the Comet of the Century be seen in Argentina?
According to Star Walk, the comet A3 Tsuchinshan Atlas, popularly known as the Comet of the Century, can be seen throughout the world, but its visibility will be greater in the southern hemisphere of the Earth, which includes countries such as Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Brazil, Republic Democratic of the Congo e Indonesia.
The closest approach to the Sun will be on September 28, 2024, and it will be visible on Earth from October 13 to 24: it can be observed with the naked eye or with binoculars. On October 13th the Comet of the Century will be at its brightest, so during the evening you will be able to observe it from different points or you can follow its trajectory on the website of Star Walk.
After approaching the Sun, the comet will rotate close to the Earth and, At the end of November, it will gradually lose its brightness because it will begin to move away from our planet. Although there is no exact time to observe this astronomical phenomenon, it is recommended to try to view it early in the morning: between 5:30 and 7:00 a.m..
What is the Comet of the Century and why is it so special?
The Comet of the Century was discovered on January 9, 2023, that’s why its name begins with the letter “A” and the number 3 is because it was the third space object of this type found in that period. Tsuchinschan Atlas is a tribute to the Purple Mountain Observatory (Zijingshan Astronomical Observatory) and the Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System (ATLAS), which were key to its discovery.
The comet is currently located between the orbits of Jupiter y Marte a an approximate speed of 180,610 miles per hour (290,664 km/h), regarding 80.74 km per second, relative to Earth.
These types of comets are composed mainly of ice, dust and rock, and when they get close enough to the Sun, the heat causes a kind of sublimation of the materials they are composed of, which causes a diffuse atmosphere and a tail to form that can be seen from Earth.
The reason it has been called the Comet of the Century is due to its exceptional shine, among other notable features. Comets that pass close to the Sun tend to have the most impressive tails, and this is the case with Comet of the Century.
Recommendations for observing the Comet of the Century
This comet can be seen with the naked eye from Argentina in October, when it passes closest to Earth, although it can be carried out Some practices to enjoy in a better way of this unique astronomical phenomenon.
The first thing you can do is look for spaces where you can fully appreciate the sky, so as not to miss a single detail of this comet, it is therefore recommended to go to open spaces.
Another detail that also influences is the pollution and the climate from the place from which you intend to observe the Comet of the Century, since if they are not in optimal conditions for that day, you may not be able to fully enjoy this event.
