Comet Tsuchinchan Atlas of the century delights over Cologne!

Comet Tsuchinchan Atlas of the century delights over Cologne!

A fascinating natural spectacle awaits the people of Cologne these days, because the comet of the century Tsuchinchan-Atlas, also known as C/2023 A3, has now arrived near our planet. On Monday night, the comet, which has been getting closer to Earth in recent weeks, was already visible in some parts of the region, and observation opportunities are expected to improve over the next few days.

As of Monday, the comet will be only about 70 million kilometers from Earth, making it easily visible to the naked eye. To see the comet properly, stargazers should extend their arm toward the west, where the planet Venus is located. Two fist-breadths further to the right is Tsuchinchan-Atlas, which impresses with its distinctive tail. However, in order to actually observe the impressive spectacle, a clear view is required.

Observation tips for Cologne residents

There are some outstanding places in the city from which the comet can be easily observed. Particularly sparsely developed areas in the west of Cologne and the surrounding area offer suitable conditions. The Königsforst or the Wahner Heide are two recommended viewing points where the chances of seeing the comet in its full glory increase significantly.

The weather forecast in Cologne could also be helpful. The German Weather Service (DWD) announced “regionally clearing” skies for Tuesday night, which could improve visibility of the comet. The day after, some veiled clouds are possible, but here too there is hope for clearing up that could make it possible to observe the comet.

The last visibility of such an impressive comet was many years ago; Comet Hale-Bopp caused great fascination in 1997. Such large-scale visibility is a rarity, earning Tsuchinchan Atlas the title of “Comet of the Century.” This name was chosen because comets like this are rarely visible to the naked eye.

Like its predecessor Hale-Bopp, Tsuchinchan-Atlas also has a long, distinctive tail. This is caused by the heating and evaporation of material from the comet as it approaches the sun. It is an impressive spectacle that attracts both amateur astronomers and the general public.

The comet was only discovered by scientists last year, and it was initially unclear whether it would survive entering our atmosphere on its journey to Earth or whether it could burn up. Tsuchinchan Atlas is one of the periodic comets that rarely come close to our Earth. After disappearing behind the sun last week and temporarily not being visible, it will remain clearly visible until October 17th, according to current forecasts.

After this date, the comet will again move towards the Oort Cloud, a mysterious area at the edge of our solar system. For many, this is a unique opportunity to observe such an astronomical event. Therefore, anyone interested should take advantage of the opportunity and look out for Tsuchinchan Atlas in the next few days to watch it go by.

The event will attract not only astronomy enthusiasts, but also those who simply want to appreciate the beauty of the night sky. So if you live in the Cologne region or are visiting there, you shouldn't miss this opportunity. If everything goes well and the weather cooperates, it could be an unforgettable experience.

For more information about the viewing conditions and the comet itself, interested readers can read the current coverage on www.t-online.de track.