From this Friday, the “comet of the century” will be visible to the naked eye in several regions of the world and in the French sky. It promises a spectacular celestial spectacle, especially for astronomy enthusiasts.
An exceptional comet approaching. This Friday, astronomy enthusiasts will have their eyes turned to the sky to observe what promises to be one of the most significant astronomical events of recent years.
And for good reason, the comet called C/2023 A3 Tsuchinshan-ATLAS, more commonly called the “comet of the century”, will reach its point of maximum visibility. Discovered in January 2023 by the Purple Mountain Observatory in China, then confirmed the following month by the South African telescope of the ATLAS program, it is distinguished by its imposing size and its unusual luminosity. With a diameter estimated at several kilometers, comet C/2023 A3 is also composed mainly of ice, rocks and dust.
As it approaches the Sun, the gases and particles it releases form a luminous trail that should be visible to the naked eye from Earth.
Looking West
If the observation of this comet depends on several factors, notably the geographical position and weather conditions, according to experts it will be visible from this Friday, October 11.
People in the northern hemisphere will be best placed to see it, particularly in Europe, North America, and parts of Asia. In France, the best time to observe the comet will be between sunset and sunrise.
All you need to do is look west above the horizon to see it, without the need for any special equipment. However, the use of binoculars or a telescope could improve the visual experience.
