It’s only 2024 but some have already called it the “comet of the century”. Obviously, it’s always easier to remember than C/2023 A3 Tsuchinshan-ATLAS, its nickname.
However, this comet, discovered in January 2023 by the Purple Mountain Observatory in China, with a diameter estimated at several kilometers and composed mainly of ice, rocks and dust should be exceptionally bright the making it visible to the naked eye. Although, as always, resorting to the use of binoculars or a telescope could improve the visual experience.
Later every evening
To see it, you will therefore have to barely raise your eyes to the sky from Friday October 11 and for several days, between sunset and sunrise, and look towards the west, above the horizon. You should then be able to see its “hair”, in reality the tail of a comet which forms at the relative approach of the sun.
For Friday October 11, it should appear shortly after 7 p.m. Then the “comet of the century” will set every day twenty minutes later than the day before, until October 20.
Perfect timing for astronomy enthusiasts, which coincides with the organization on Saturday October 12 of the “Day of the Night” operation encouraging the fight against light pollution.
So, for example, in Seine-Maritime, in Roncherolles-sur-le-Vivier, we will turn off the village lights from 8:30 p.m. The observation of planets, constellations and galaxies can then be carried out using several telescopes made available.
Not to be missed after the Northern Lights that some had the chance to see and immortalize last night.
