The comet Tsuchinshan-Atlas: A heavenly spectacle from October 12th

The comet Tsuchinshan-Atlas: A heavenly spectacle from October 12th

The comet Tsuchinshan-Atlas, which was discovered in early 2023 both in China and South Africa, is about to illuminate the nightly firmament across Europe. The operator of the Vienna Astronomical Society (WAA), Alexander Pikhard, expressed optimistic: "He holds what he promises." Already from Australia and New Zealand, impressive shots of the celestial body have been sighted, and in this country the comet should also be visible for a few days from October 12th.

Compared to other comets, Tsuchinshan-Atlas has special origin. It is one of the non-periodic comets that only appear near the earth every few centuries. These celestial bodies come from the so-called Oortschen cloud, a large reservoir of ice and dust bodies that are located on the outer limits of our solar system. Pikhard noted that the comet is as bright as the well -known comet Neowise, which attracted great attention in summer 2020.

expectations and observation options

The brightness of comet varies greatly and is difficult to predict. It depends on how much material the comet settles past the sun while flying - gas and dust. Pikhard reported that Tsuchinshan-Atlas has so far adhered to the pre-calculated brightness model ", which arouses hope of impressive sighting.

The best time to watch the comet is at dusk. Expert Pikhard advises to look into the western sky, especially in the first days after October 12, when the comet should be visible with the naked eye. In order to get a better view, the use of a binoculars is recommended. This will be particularly helpful at dusk in order to be able to find the comet more easily.

For everyone who wants to use this astronomical opportunity, there will be regular observation evenings in Martinsberg in Lower Austria from next Saturday, provided that the weather is good. The WAA will also be observed and invites you to special events at the Vienna Sophienalpe. These observation evenings offer a great opportunity to follow the comets together and learn more about its properties.

The viewing of comets often attracts the interest of hobby astronomers and the general public. Comets are fascinating objects that give us an insight into the early days of our solar system. The upcoming event is therefore not only for astronomy enthusiasts, but of great importance and offers an excellent opportunity to experience the miracles of the universe up close.

For more information on this topic and on the observation options, Read the article on K.at .