The newly discovered Comet C/2023 A3 or Tsuchinshan ATLAS was visible in the Skies from September 27 to mid-October. It was visible after sunset during its peak visibility before vanishing behind the Sun. The comet remained visible until approximately October 24, with binoculars or small telescopes enhancing visibility in light-polluted areas.

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.

What makes Comet Tschunishan Atlas unique?

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

• Its long orbital period of 80,000 years and impressive size make it stand out among comets.
• The comet was first discovered by Purple Mountain Observatory, China on 9 January 2023, and The Asteroid Impact Last Alert System (ATLAS), Africa.
• During it’s the Closest Approach it was 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. This comet has an estimated orbital period of 80,000 years, indicating that it last visited the inner solar system during the time of Neanderthals.

Physical characteristics

The nucleus of Comet C/2023 A3 contains ice, dust, or even rocks; these materials came from the solar system’s formation. In terms of size, the head of the comet measures about 130,000 miles in diameter, while its tail can extend up to 18 million miles.

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.

Technical aspects of comet Tschunishan Atlas

Viewing times and locations

Comet C/2023 A3 or Tschunishan Atlas was visible for stargazers for quite some time, especially when it reached perihelion or the closest point to the sun. It reached its closest point to the Sun (perihelion) on September 27, 2024, and made its closest approach to Earth on October 12, 2024, coming within about 44 million miles.

Based on location, the comet was observed in both the northern and southern hemispheres. The best view was seen in regions in northern hemisphere as it rose higher in the sky.

How to photograph Tschunishan Atlas?

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. Using a telescope or binoculars are recommended for a better clarity.

Previous comet sightings

The list of comets detected and reported in history is long. It is possible to point out that Comets like Hailey, 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.