Unlike the Northern Lights, the photos of which are published in spades, the comet of the century is more shy. And then, the first photos appeared on social networks this Sunday, October 13, 2024. The comet Tsuchinshan-Atlas was seen in the sky of Toulouse. A professional photographer tells us.
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Given the cloudiness installed almost throughout the country, this weekend, you had to be in the South-West to observe the long-awaited comet of the century. The first photos of the observation of the phenomenon were posted from Landes, Lot-et-Garonne, but also from Toulouse. This Saturday, October 12, 2024, Loïc Tripier sat at sunset at the Pech David observatory, in the company of many curious people. He tells us how he managed to capture the star C/2023 A3 with its camera.
“It took us a long time to see itsays Loïc Tripier. The first people to see it were armed with binoculars. Me, with the camera, I searched for a long time and it was very, very complicated to get it in the viewfinder and then to photograph it.“The professional photographer explains: this Saturday October 12, at the end of the day, the sky is slightly foggy over Toulouse. Which is not very compatible with seeing the comet which is “very low on the horizon”. And makes his work somewhat laborious.
And then, around 8 p.m., a stroke of luck. A window of visibility finally opens even if “it still lacks contrast in the sky which is still very bright at that time.“Clearly, the comet would be more visible if it was darker. And then, according to Loïc Tripier, the Tsuchinshan-Atlas comet is not very bright. “Elle has a magnitude that is quite low compared to what we experienced with Neowise in 2020“, he told us.
From my point of view, it is not the comet of the century. Neowise in 2020 was much brighter.
Loïc Triper, professional photographer
The photographer nonetheless appreciates his luck. Especially after not being able to get any shots of the Northern Lights due to the weather three days ago.
Luck and a beautiful moment of sharing, that’s what Loïc Tripier remembers from this evening of observation. The atmosphere is good-natured among all the astronomy enthusiasts who met at this observation point in Toulouse. And no one plays it personal.
“The first one to detect the comet with the binoculars directed me so that I could have it with the camera. Once I had her in my sights, I in turn directed someone else. And he himself, afterwards, showed it to his children and his wife“, says the photographer.
Monday will make memories to tell at school
What also caught the attention of Loïc Tripier was the curiosity aroused by this astronomical phenomenon. Especially from children. “I found it great to be able to share this moment with other people around me, especially passionate kids who really wanted to be there.“
The comet, which comes to us from the confines of the solar system, has been visible for several days in the northern hemisphere. She had to pass closest to the Earth, approximately 110 million kilometers, this Saturday, October 12, told us Nicolas André, CNRS researcher and professor of planetary sciences at Isae-Supaero. “Then she will walk away. It will be visible shortly after sunset over the next few days and as time goes by, it will rise into the sky.“
According to the specialist, the comet should be visible to the naked eye until October 18. If the weather permits of course. And given that this doesn’t happen every day and that it remains an exceptional moment, Loïc Tripier could well try his luck again this Sunday evening.
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