All about C/2023 A3, the “comet of the century” approaching Earth: how to see this stellar phenomenon

C/2023 A3 Tsuchinshan-ATLAS, known as the “comet of the century,” could easily be seen crossing the night sky with the naked eye these days. The comet will pass close to the Sun without disintegrating and will reach its closest point to Earth this Saturday, October 12.

The best time to view the “comet of the century” will be at sunset this Saturday, around 20:00. To do this, you will have to look to the west, according to eltiempo.es.

This celestial body of ice and dust is approaching Earth, offering a spectacle that won’t be seen again for thousands of years. Since October 12, the comet has been visible to the naked eye in the northern hemisphere, showing a luminous tail stretching across the sky.

Why is it called the “comet of the century”?

Discovered in January 2023 by telescopes at the Qutingshan Observatory in China and confirmed by the ATLAS project in South Africa, Comet Qutingshan-ATLAS has been dubbed the “comet of the century” due to its exceptional brightness and the rarity of its trajectory. It is estimated that their last visit to the inner solar system occurred about 80,000 years ago, during the time when Neanderthals inhabited the Earth.

Comet Tzuchinshan-ATLAS surprised astronomers and amateurs with its brilliant brightness. According to Javier Licandro, an astronomer at the Institute of Astrophysics of the Canary Islands (IAC), the comet is currently “much brighter than Mercury”, one of the brightest planets in the night sky.

This characteristic is measured by stellar magnitude, a scale that determines the brightness of celestial objects. Images taken by the SOHO (Solar and Heliospheric Observatory) satellite show that the comet has developed an impressive tail.

The comet of the century’s tail reaches a length equivalent to the diameter of 42 full moons, a spectacle that few astronomical phenomena can match.

To fully enjoy the comet of the century, experts recommend viewing it from locations with little light pollution and a clear western horizon.

How to see this stellar phenomenon

The best time to observe is just after sunset, around 20:00. Every day after dark the comet will rise higher in the sky, making it easier to see. It is advisable to use magnifying binoculars to better see the details of its core and extensive tail.

However, due to its high brightness, it can also be seen with the naked eye. In Spain, the Canary Islands offer ideal viewing conditions thanks to clear skies and low levels of light pollution.

Tsuchinshan-ATLAS has been compared to historical comets such as Hale-Boppa and Hyakutake, which made a deep impression on those who observed them in the 1990s. Comet Hale-Bopp in particular was so bright that it could be seen even during the day using telescopes.

Period of intense solar activity

This astronomical event coincides with a period of intense solar activity that allowed the northern lights to appear in unusually low latitudes, including regions of the Iberian Peninsula.

Although seeing a comet and auroras at the same time is unlikely due to differences in time and directions in the sky, the opportunity to witness both phenomena on the same night was a source of great excitement.

The Sun is in a particularly active stage of its eleven-year cycle, increasing the frequency and intensity of auroras. Seeing the northern lights from more southerly latitudes is a rare event, and current conditions make it a real possibility, making nighttime viewing even more attractive.

Comets are celestial bodies consisting of ice, dust and small rock particles. As they approach the Sun, the heat causes the frozen materials to rise, changing from a solid to a gaseous state.

This creates a diffuse atmosphere called a coma around the core and a tail that always points away from the Sun due to the solar wind. Tzuchinshan-ATLAS emanates from the Oort cloud, a vast and distant reservoir of icy bodies surrounding the solar system.

This comet is estimated to have a non-periodic orbit, meaning it may never return. After passing Earth, it will continue its journey to the far reaches of the solar system, possibly influenced by the gravity of other planets or stars.

For those looking to capture the moment, October 19 and 20 could be ideal for photography as the full moon will pass and moonlight will not interfere with viewing the comet, making this an exceptional opportunity for amateur astronomers. and night sky photographers.

After its spectacular appearance, Comet Tzuchinshan-ATLAS will continue its path, moving further and further from Earth. Orbital models suggest it won’t approach our planet again for hundreds of thousands of years, if ever. This is literally a unique opportunity to witness this phenomenon.