The long tail of the “comet of the century” remained glowing in the sky of A-Veiga

He C/2023 A3 Tsuchinshan-ATLASknown as the “comet of the century”, was spotted late this Sunday in Veigue. It was photographer Ricardo Lago the same one who provided Region with this photograph. It has been announced that this weekend, Saturday, the comet will be easily visible to the naked eye as it crosses the night sky. Was over the sky of KorsosWhere was this image taken? A historic photo that was made possible because its trajectory in the last few hours was the closest to Earth since it passed close to the Sun without breaking up.

And, as the experts predicted, this Sunday, at dusk, a bright tail Tsuchinshan-ATLAS.

As the comet passed over Korzos, at the Trevinca Skies Astronomical Center its director Oscar Blanco also issued a warning.. The comet’s fleeting passage was captured on video. This is what the telescopes reported: a diagonal crossing of the horizon, while the comet of the century was accompanied by many other small shooting stars that are now more common.

What is C/2023 A3 Tzuchinshan-ATLAS?

This is a celestial body consists of ice and dustapproached Earth, offering a spectacle that would not be repeated 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.

“Much brighter than Mercury,” according to Javier Licandro, an astronomer at the Institute of Astrophysics of the Canary Islands (IAC).

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 called the “comet of the century” due to its his exceptional brilliance and rarity of his career.

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 Tsuchinshan-ATLAS surprised astronomers and amateurs its intense radiance. According to Javier Licandro, 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 evolved. impressive tail.

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

Can I still see this?

To fully enjoy the comet of the century, experts recommend viewing it from locations with little light pollution, such as To Veigu, known as a privileged enclave and a destination for all lovers of stargazing and tourism. .

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

However, due to its high brightness, This 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.

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

Intense solar activity these days

This astronomical event coincides with period of intense solar activitywhich allowed the northern lights to appear in unusually low latitudes, including areas 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 especially active stage eleven-year cycle, which increases 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.

What are comets?

comets celestial bodies consisting of ice, dust and small particles of rocks. 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. He Tsuchinshan-ATLAS It comes from the Oort cloud, a huge and distant reservoir of icy bodies surrounding the solar system.

This comet is believed to have non-periodic orbitwhich means he 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.

Dates to consider for lovers of these celestial observations

For those who want to capture the moment, October 19 and 20 They may be ideal for photography since the full moon will have passed and the lunar glow 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 that It will not approach our planet for hundreds of thousands of years.if he ever comes back. This is literally a unique opportunity to witness this phenomenon.