It’s time to organize your evenings: from Friday October 11, 2024, and each evening that follows, the comet Tuschinshan-Atlas promises to be visible in France just after sunset. This sky map will help you find your way to finding it above the western horizon, with the naked eye and binoculars.
It’s been almost two years since astronomers discovered it. Comet Tsuchinshan-Atlas is finally here. After showing off nicely in the Southern hemisphere last week, and making a discreet appearance here, it is time for the inhabitants of the Northern hemisphere to try to observe it every evening, starting Friday October 11, 2024 A great astronomical activity accessible to all, starting this weekend!
See a sunset, only better
To see the comet, avoid the clouds as much as possible. Choose an observation site with a clear horizon due west. It should appear at the level of the horizon, slightly to the left and above the setting Sun. Start your observation as soon as the Sun has disappeared below the horizon. In mainland France, it will be around 7:15 p.m. (a little earlier or later depending on your location).
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As night falls, the comet should be revealed against the increasingly dark sky. On Friday the 11th, it will still be bathed in the evening light, disappearing very quickly below the horizon around 8 p.m. On Saturday the 12th, then every day after, it will be a little higher in the sky and therefore visible for a longer time before setting. Against a darker sky background, the contrast will be better. However, as it gradually moves away from the Sun, its intrinsic luminosity will decrease each night.
Under clear skies, there is a chance of seeing it with the naked eye in the early evenings. And it looks unmissable in a pair of binoculars. Make sure the Sun is down so as not to accidentally point at it, or risk damaging your eyesight.
To best prepare your observation, download our sky map below and find our publications:
Good observations!
