Comet C/2023 A3: Evening star shows the way to the sky spectacle!

Comet C/2023 A3: Evening star shows the way to the sky spectacle!

Stand: 12.10.2024 2:41 pm

In the coming days a very special spectacle could take place in the evening sky. Anyone who has a clear view of the western horizon will be able to watch the comet Tsuchinshan atlas. This was discovered by astronomers in January 2023 and has since moved to the sun on his train. After flying past the sun on September 27th, it will come to the earth to about 70 million kilometers on October 12th, which corresponds to about half the distance to the sun.

The comet Tsuchinshan-Atlas, also known as the name C/2023 A3, is currently a small point of light in the sky. Uwe Pilz from the Association of Sternfreunde explains that even visibility has been difficult since Thursday, since the comet is only visible as a tiny, blurry light spot at dusk. It should only be better observable on Sunday and Monday evening, because then it is higher in the sky and remains visible for longer.

visible with the naked eye

To make sure you see the comet, a location with a clear view of the western horizon is necessary. The evening star, Venus, will serve as an orientation. If the sun falls, the comet should be located as a weak light point about two fists on the right of Venus in the sky. However, it should be noted that the weather forecasts for North Rhine-Westphalia predict clouds in many places, which probably limits the view.

The comet itself, which is popularly referred to as "dirty snowball", consists mainly of ice, dust and rock. His elliptical path around the sun allows it to move from the cold regions of the solar system towards the nearby. The core of the Tsuchinshan atlas is described as a kilometer-sized lump of ice that comes from the Oortschen Wolke-a region that makes up the edge of our solar system.

record-breaking brightness

The comet is currently moving through the field of vision of the solo and heliospache observatory (Soho), which is operated by NASA and the ESA space authority. According to a current evaluation of NASA, the comet has reached its maximum brightness in the past few days. Researchers discuss whether Tsuchinshan-Atlas C/2023 A3 could be the brightest comet that was ever photographed by the observatory. So far, however, the McNaugh comet has been holding the record.

The opportunity to see the comet in the sky remains exciting, even though the weather could put a spanner in the way. The curiosity of this astronomical event remains high, as it does not often occur that a comet passes so close to the earth.

Further information on this phenomenon can be found on www.tagesschau.de can be found.