Saturday, October 12 will be the best time to observe comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS, nicknamed “the comet of the century,” when it comes closest to Earth. According to Nahúm Méndez Chazarra, a geologist and science communicator, this will also be the last opportunity to see a comet with the naked eye in the night sky for a long time.
These first days of October, the comet will temporarily disappear due to its proximity to the Sun, but around the middle of the month it will experience a rebirth. It will begin to move away, becoming more visible at dusk. With each passing day it will be higher in the sky at dusk, making it easier to spot. From October 14, its distance from the Sun will be sufficient to observe it after sunset in clear locations.
Comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-Atlas) was discovered by astronomers early last year and is believed to orbit the Sun every 80,000 years, meaning Neanderthals still roamed the Earth when she was last visible.
As visible as the stars
This comet offers a visual spectacle of a luminosity comparable to that of the brightest stars, due to its abundant content of dust particles. However, its low height on the horizon and its appearance at dawn complicate its observation. A physical phenomenon, called “forward scatter,” could increase its brightness. “When the sun’s rays illuminate the comet’s comet, the dust and ice particles reflect the sunlight, which scatters towards the observer,” explains astrophysicist Josep María Trigo, from the Institute of Space Sciences (ICE – CSIC).
After being hidden for a while, it will be visible in the sky again. This phase will be more favorable to observers in the southern hemisphere, although it can also be observed from high, open areas in countries like Mexico, Spain and Portugal.
“Comets visible to the naked eye are already quite rare, and this one has the potential to be among the brightest we’ve seen in recent decades. So it’s definitely worth a try,” says Gregory Brown, an astronomer at the Royal Observatory, Greenwich. in The Guardian.
Even though it is sometimes very bright, it is recommended to move away and have a good view of the horizon. It is important to let your eyes adjust to the darkness and also look slightly above the comet rather than keeping it in the center of vision. Thanks to this “diverted vision” technique, you will have the last opportunity to observe it with the naked eye or with binoculars before its final departure.
