The comet Tsuchinshan-Atlas is coming: spectacular sight over Austria

The comet Tsuchinshan-Atlas is coming: spectacular sight over Austria

In the next few days, star lovers in Austria can experience an extraordinary spectacle in the sky. The comet “Tsuchinshan Atlas” will be visible to the naked eye and will trace an impressive tail across the evening sky. Astronomers and amateur observers are in for an unforgettable event after the comet was previously observed from the Southern Hemisphere, where it shone brighter than the brightest stars.

Michael Jäger, an experienced comet expert from the Martinsberg Astronomical Center in Lower Austria, has observed the comet from Namibia over the past few days. He explained that the comet developed ideally – “like in the textbook”. During his observations, it shone as brightly as stars of the first magnitude, which makes it comparable to the brightest celestial bodies in the night sky. In particular, its elongated tail, which extends over 20 degrees, is an impressive celestial phenomenon. In comparison, the Moon has an apparent diameter of about half a degree, making the comet's tail forty times longer.

Comet appears on Saturday evening

Starting Saturday evening, October 12, the comet will be visible just above the western horizon. According to Jäger, its brightness will be approximately that of the Polar Star, which corresponds to the 2nd magnitude. The comet will be particularly visible at dusk. Alexander Pikhard from the Vienna Association for Astronomy (WAA) estimates that “Tsuchinshan Atlas” will remain visible to the naked eye for about a week. After this time, the comet will become fainter, so binoculars might be useful to find it further in the sky. Pikhard recommends using binoculars right from the start, as this makes searching easier at dusk.

Expect an even longer tail?

Jäger suspects that the comet's tail could appear even more spectacular in the coming days than during the observations in Namibia. “It could be significantly longer than the 20 degrees that have been visible so far,” says Jäger. However, more details will only be known when the comet appears in the Austrian evening sky. The Martinsberg Astronomical Center is planning regular observation evenings starting Saturday, provided the weather cooperates. The WAA also invites you to observe the sky at the Sophienalpe in Vienna-Penzing, provided the conditions are good.

However, the weather could be a factor of uncertainty. The comet will be available for twilight observations from Saturday, but whether this can happen in its full glory depends largely on weather conditions. A weather front that could move in from the west on Saturday could reduce visibility. However, there is hope that there will be an opportunity to observe the comet in southern and eastern Austria.

Optimistic voices also speak of clearer nights from Monday, and the weather conditions could then be favorable for many parts of Austria to admire the comet even better.

Comet Tsuchinshan Atlas was discovered in early 2023 when two observatories in China and South Africa independently tracked it. It comes from the Oort Cloud, a spherical area at the far edge of the solar system that is home to many celestial objects. Its orbit is extremely elongated, so the comet rarely comes close to the sun. Although it reached its closest point to the Sun on September 27, 2024, it was not visible from Central Europe at that time.

The upcoming release of the “Tsuchinshan Atlas” will help promote interest in astronomy. With favorable weather conditions, viewers in Austria can have an unforgettable experience watching the sky and seeing how spectacular our solar system can be. Observations like these awaken the desire to explore the secrets of the universe and offer the opportunity to experience the fascination of the cosmos up close. Further information and details on visibility and planned observations are also available according to www.wetter.at.