The comet Tsuchinshan Atlas is a distant visitor that also passes our Earth on its way around the sun. To us it is visible as a bright star with a tail.
Comet Tsuchinshan Atlas – All information
Comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS) was discovered in early 2023.
- The comet was named after the Tsuchinshan Observatory in China because it was first discovered there on January 9, 2023. The second part of the name “ATLAS” comes from the asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System in Hawaii, which later confirmed the discovery.
- C/2023 A3 is a so-called long-period comet, meaning that it takes a very long time (probably thousands of years) to complete a complete orbit around the Sun.
- Comets like Tsuchinshan-ATLAS are largely made up of a mixture of ice, dust and rock, which is why they are often referred to as “dirty snowballs.” As they approach the sun, the ice begins to evaporate due to the heat. This leads to the formation of the distinctive tail of dust and gas that can extend over several million kilometers.
- Tsuchinshan-ATLAS comes from the Oort Cloud, a distant region at the edge of our solar system that is home to many comets and other celestial bodies.
Here's how you can see him
It will be visible to the naked eye in the sky in October 2024.
- You can recognize it by its tail and its position next to Venus. It appeared brightest on the night between October 12th and 13th, reaching the closest point to Earth at around 70 million kilometers.
- It should remain visible until the end of October. It can be seen even better with binoculars.
- The best time to observe is shortly after sunset. Good conditions are a clear view to the west and little light pollution.