Comet Tsuchinshan Atlas: A heavenly spectacle over Vienna

Comet Tsuchinshan Atlas: A heavenly spectacle over Vienna

Last Saturday evening, numerous amateur astronomers and interested parties gathered at the Sophienalpe in Vienna-Penzing to take a look at the new comet “C/2023 A3 Tsuchinshan Atlas”. Despite the difficult weather conditions with lots of clouds, observers were able to get a brief glimpse of the comet when it became visible for a short time through a gap in the clouds. This event aroused great interest and stimulated discussions about the rare astronomical visitor.

The event was supported by the Vienna Association for Astronomy, which offered information to amateur astronomers and observed the moon and the planet Saturn using telescopes. After the cloud cover finally broke up a bit, visitors gathered at the popular location were finally able to see the comet. Although the visibility was short and the comet appeared diffuse, the wait was worth it for many.

Optimal observation time is approaching

Experts believe that the coming week will provide optimal conditions for spotting the comet. Michael Jäger, chairman of the Martinsberg Astronomical Center in Lower Austria, explains that the comet will be visible in all its glory in the next few days thanks to the brightening of the sky. He predicts that the best time window will be immediately after the full moon on October 17th.

“The comet is still in the brighter twilight, but that is improving quickly,” continued Jäger. Although the comet's brightness will decrease as it moves away from the Sun, its increasing position in the sky will keep it visible. Especially until Friday, it is recommended to look to the west in the evening to get the best view.

Origin and discovery of the comet

The comet “Tsuchinshan Atlas” was first discovered by observatories in China and South Africa in early 2023. It is part of the Oort Cloud, a vast reservoir of ice and rock found in the outer solar system. This long orbit around the sun means the comet only appears once every few centuries, making its visit all the more remarkable.

The Vienna Working Group for Astronomy is planning to organize further observation evenings at Sophienalpe. These are carried out depending on the weather conditions so that the astronomy enthusiasts can have the opportunity to better observe the comet. When the weather is good, the Martinsberg Astronomical Center also invites you to join in with community observations.