The “comet of the century” arrives above our heads this weekend: how to observe it properly

See my news
Follow News

Visible from this weekend, comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS, or C/2023/A3, could quite compete with the famous comet Neowise. At least that’s what people estimateactu.fr Nicolas Biver, astrophysicist at the Paris observatory, also president of the Comet Commission of the French Astronomical Society.

If the name “comet of the century” is perhaps exaggerated (“there are still 76 years left” before the end of the century, reacts Nicolas Biver), we could well be faced with the comet of the decade.

This comet, visible from France since Friday October 11, also has a particularity: it has a sort of tail. In fact, the spectacle to be discovered in the sky could quite resemble a comet as we imagine it. In any case, this is what astronomers from the southern hemisphere report, who were lucky enough to see it clearly last week.

The best time to see Tsuchinshan-ATLAS?

Besides, Tsuchinshan-ATLAS is already in our sky. But difficult to see at the moment, because she “gets up” too early. So, to the naked eye, the sky is not yet dark enough to really enjoy it. Afterwards, with a pair of binoculars, the panorama can very well be nice. And this since Friday October 11, 2024.

The best time to enjoy the show is definitely this Sunday October 13, 2024. This is where its brightness will be highest, because this is where it will be at its closest point to Earth. Basically, its brilliance will be comparable to Aldebaran, a star that can be clearly seen, even from the city.

It’s really from sunset that it will be visible, and be careful: it will only remain visible for a few dozen minutes at the beginning.

Don’t panic, for those who will not be able to scan the celestial vault this Sunday: C/2023/A3 will still be visible all week, with a small paradox: “the further we go in the week, the longer it will remain, but the less it will be bright. We save a few tens of minutes every day,” explains Nicolas Biver to actu.fr.

Where to look to see Tsuchinshan-ATLAS well?

To the extent that it will be really very bright, and above all, will be denoted by its tail, it will be difficult to miss this comet.

As it has just gone around the Sun, it is from this direction that it comes. As a result, it is towards our star, a little above, to the left, that we will have to place our eyes. Be careful, you should definitely not look directly towards the Sun. Even if it is sunset, the eyes are very sensitive and could be damaged.

And if the Sun has already set, and it is no longer possible to use it as a reference point, we can simplify by saying to look towards the western horizon. On Sunday, in Paris, the Sun sets at precisely 7:04 p.m. It is in these waters that the comet will be clearly visible. To the naked eye.

In the days that follow, the comet will stay later, and will be a bit higher in the sky.

This is obvious, but you will have to hope that the weather is good: a cloudy sky could completely spoil the experience. We will also have to deal with the luminosity of the Moon, which could slightly obscure that of the comet.

Last thing: if it will be visible even from the city, getting away from any light pollution is obviously a big plus, and will allow you to see this spectacle much better, which already promises to be grandiose.

Follow all the news from your favorite cities and media by subscribing to Mon Actu.