{"id":64714,"date":"2024-10-10T08:38:21","date_gmt":"2024-10-10T08:38:21","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/15588589-79a1-4384-9f62-6be9507e3e67"},"modified":"2024-10-10T09:39:36","modified_gmt":"2024-10-10T09:39:36","slug":"observing-comet-c-2023-a3-in-october-key-dates-times-and-star-charts-for-spotting-it-this-month","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcskyatnight\/rss_feed\/observing-comet-c-2023-a3-in-october-key-dates-times-and-star-charts-for-spotting-it-this-month\/","title":{"rendered":"Observing Comet C\/2023 A3 in October. Key dates, times and star charts for spotting it this month"},"content":{"rendered":"

Find out how to see the highly-anticipated comet at its best in October. <\/p>

By Pete Lawrence\n <\/p>

Published: Thursday, 10 October 2024 at 08:38 AM<\/p>

\n\n

Comet C\/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan\u2013ATLAS) is taking centre stage this month, October 2024, with the coming weekend the best time to see it.<\/p>

A much-anticipated object, C\/2023 A3<\/a> was predicted to be above naked-eye brightness during October.<\/p>

After swinging rapidly through its closest approach to the Sun (perihelion) in late September, now in October we’re getting to see the aftermath of its solar encounter.<\/p>

For more info, read our beginner’s guide to Comet C\/2023 A3<\/a>, discover the 10 greatest comets of recent times<\/a> and find out what comets and asteroids are in the sky tonight<\/a><\/em><\/strong>.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>

Comet C\/2023 A3 Tsuchinshan-ATLAS, captured by Gergely T\u00f3th from La Palma, Canary Islands, 1 October 2024, 06:00 UTC. Equipment: Sony A7IIIa camera, Samyang AF 135mm f\/1.8 lens, Benro Polaris tripod head. Sky: f\/1.8, 8s, ISO 640 (8 panels in 1 row) Foreground: f\/1.8, 4s, ISO 640 (8 panels in 1 row)<\/figcaption><\/figure>

Perihelion occurred on 27 September, when C\/2023 A3 passed 58.6 million kilometres from the Sun, a similar distance as Mercury\u2019s orbit.<\/p>

This was the comet\u2019s first close encounter with our star, having travelled to the inner Solar System from the Oort cloud<\/a>, a theorised outer region 2,000\u2013200,000 AU (0.03\u20133.2 lightyears<\/a>) from the Sun.<\/p>

It\u2019s thought the Oort cloud contains trillions of potential comets<\/a>.<\/p>

See the best images of comet C\/2023 A3 Tsuchinshan-ATLAS<\/a><\/em><\/strong><\/p>

\"Chart
Chart showing the location of Comet C\/2023 A3 Tsuchinshan-ATLAS. Click to expand.<\/figcaption><\/figure>

Observing Comet C\/2023 A3 in October<\/strong><\/h2>

After C\/2023 A3\u2019s long journey sunward, what happens around perihelion is still unknown.<\/p>

In the early part of 2024, the comet showed a lot of dust activity which, if it continues, may give it an impressive tail.<\/p>

Comet C\/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan\u2013ATLAS) appears just 3\u00b0 north of the Sun on 9\u201310 October, far too close to observe.<\/p>

\"Diagram
Diagram showing the orbital path of Comet C\/2023 A3 Tsuchinshan-ATLAS. Click to expand.<\/figcaption><\/figure>

However, its apparent separation from the Sun then increases rapidly.\u00a0<\/p>

Clear skies and a flat western horizon will be key from mid-October.<\/p>

Those that are lucky enough to have that may pick the comet up on 11 October, but it will be extremely low as darkness falls and difficult to see.<\/p>

\"Locate
Locate Comet C\/2023 A3 in October 2024 by following the Plough’s arc to Arcturus, then looking west. Click to expand. Credit: Pete Lawrence<\/figcaption><\/figure>

The comet\u2019s closest approach to Earth, at 43.9 million kilometres, occurs on 12 October.<\/p>

On 13 October at 20:00 BST (19:00 UT), the comet will be 4\u00b0 above the western horizon under deep twilight as seen from the centre of the UK.<\/p>

This increases to 6\u00b0 at the same time on 14 October and 9\u00b0 up on 15 October, again at 20:00 BST (19:00 UT).<\/p>

\"Comet
Comet C\/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS) over Mount Sinai on the Sinai Peninsula of Egypt, captured by Osama Fathi, 28 September 2024, 05:30 local time.

Equipment: NikonZ6 Mod camera, Samyang 135mm lens. Comet (stacked): 60 photos (5sec, ISO 640, f2.8 ). Foreground: 5sec , Hdr<\/p><\/figcaption><\/figure>

Meetings with other celestial objects<\/strong><\/h2>

There\u2019s a photo opportunity on 15 October, when Comet C\/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan\u2013ATLAS) will be 1.4\u00b0 from the globular cluster M5. \u00a0<\/p>

If you want to capture it, read our guides on how to photograph Comet C\/2023 A3<\/a> and how to photograph a comet<\/a>.<\/p>

When it\u2019s close to the Sun in the sky, \u2018forward scattering\u2019 may further increase the comet\u2019s apparent brightness: basically the comet\u2019s dust particles redirecting sunlight into your line of sight.<\/p>

One caveat for the mid-month period will be the presence of a bright Moon further to the east, reaching its full phase on 17 October.<\/p>

\"Comet
Comet C\/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS) over the skyscrapers of Madrid, Spain, known as the Four Towers Business Area. Photo by Marcos del Mazo\/LightRocket via Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>

C\/2023 A3\u2019s altitude improves throughout the rest of October, its brightness dropping from a predicted second magnitude on 11 October to third magnitude on 15 October and sixth magnitude by the end of the month. \u00a0<\/p>

Ultimately, we\u2019ll have to wait and see what happens, but one thing is for sure: there\u2019s going to be lots of attention on this particular object<\/p>

Let\u2019s keep our fingers crossed for clear skies.<\/p>

If you’re following Comet C\/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan\u2013ATLAS) in October 2024, share your observations and images with us by emailing contactus@skyatnightmagazine.com<\/a><\/em><\/strong><\/p> <\/body><\/html>\n

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