Stargazers around the world have the opportunity to witness what could potentially be the most spectacular comet of the year over the next few weeks. Comet A3, also known as Tsuchinshan-ATLAS, has been dubbed the “comet of the century” by astronomers due to the excitement surrounding its brightness and visibility.
While individuals in the southern hemisphere have already caught a glimpse of the comet, those in the northern hemisphere will have their chance starting on Saturday when it comes within approximately 44 million miles of Earth. But what exactly is Comet A3 and what are the chances of getting a good view of it?
Discovered independently in January 2023 by China’s Tsuchinshan Observatory and South Africa’s ATLAS, Comet A3 is named after these two observatories. It orbits the inner solar system roughly every 80,000 years, making its last appearance from Earth during the time of the Neanderthals.
Originating from the Oort Cloud, a distant region much further away from Earth than planets and asteroids, Comet A3 resides in a giant spherical shell that houses billions of objects, including comets. This unique origin adds to the mystique surrounding the comet and its appearance.
For those eager to catch a glimpse of Comet A3, the ideal viewing window is between 12 to 30 October, with the best approach recommended by NASA astronomer Bill Cooke being to seek out a dark vantage point just after full nightfall and look towards the southwest. However, by early November, the comet will disappear once again for the next 800 centuries.
In terms of brightness, Dr. Robert Massey of the Royal Astronomical Society cautions that while Comet A3 is anticipated to be a “nice comet,” it may not be as visible as past comets like NEOWISE in 2020 or Hale-Bopp in the late 1990s. Comets are often challenging to predict due to their extended nature, with sunlight bouncing off their tails and comas potentially enhancing visibility.
As for capturing a picture of Comet A3, Dr. Massey suggests using a good DSLR camera for a set of exposures, or for those with a mobile phone camera and a small telescope, holding the phone against the eyepiece of the telescope may yield good results. The comet’s brightness will determine the ease of capturing images, with simple point-and-shoot methods potentially working if it’s bright enough.
Looking ahead, Comet A3 is not projected to come too close to planets but could eventually be ejected from the solar system due to gravitational influences. However, the unpredictable nature of comets leaves their fate uncertain, with astronomers like Cooke emphasizing the need to wait and observe the comet’s journey.
