This weekend of October 12 and 13, comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS will be visible to the naked eye in Burgundy. The star will spend several days in the sky of the region. Where, when and how to observe it? We take stock with two astronomy experts.
The essentials of the day: our exclusive selection
Every day, our editorial team reserves the best regional news for you. A selection just for you, to stay in touch with your regions.
France Télévisions uses your email address to send you the newsletter “The essentials of the day: our exclusive selection”. You can unsubscribe at any time via the link at the bottom of this newsletter. Our privacy policy
The sky is celebrating. After the magnificent Northern Lights which lit up the skies of Burgundy and Franche-Comté, it is now a comet which will be able to be observed with the naked eye in the coming days, starting this Saturday, October 12.
Olivier Las Vergnas is a French astronomer, president of the French Astronomy Association. It provides the conditions for a successful observation of the comet:
- Stand in a clear, flat area with a sky free of clouds and light pollution.
- Do not look at your phone or a light source before observing, as the human eye takes time to readjust to light.
- Looking west at 7 or 8 degrees from the sun, so a little more than a hand’s length from the sun.
The comet should be visible between 7 and 8 p.m. in Burgundy this Saturday. To follow the progress of the comet, you can consult it in real time and according to your position on this site. There is also a mobile application: Stellarium.
Why is this comet visible and not another? For Olivier Las Vergnas, there are several factors: “The trajectory of the comet plays a role. These are objects that come from very distant places in the universe and outside the area close to our sun, the rest are more like a freezer. As it moves As it approaches, it will lose debris and leave a trail. Gas will also escape as it heats up, opposite the sun. These two phenomena, in addition to exposure to the sun, will make a star brighter. or less bright.”
I say this with a grain of salt, but it could be that we can see the comet even in the city.
Jeremy Balledantmember of the astronomical society of Burgundy
Jeremy Balledant, member of the astronomical society of Burgundy provides details to be able to observe it in the region: “The comet will gradually rise each day. It will therefore be a little more visible, but it will also move away from the sun so it may be less luminous. Comets are quite unpredictablesible so it can still have surprises in store for us.”
Unfortunately for the Burgundians, the meteor could be hidden this weekend. The cloudy weather should indeed complicate the observation, knowing that the window is quite short. “I’m not very optimistic for this Saturday evening, there are a lot of clouds”confirms Jeremy Balledant. “Perhaps Yonne will have a little more luck. The western horizon must be clear at sunset and anyone will have a chance of seeing it.”
Jeremy Balledant, member of the Burgundy Astronomical Society.
•
© Jeremy Balledant
If some of you have the clemency of an open sky, using binoculars could allow you to have a more zoomed-in view. On the other hand, specialists agree that the use of the telescope “will not allow more details to be distinguished than with the naked eye”.
For those who have not had the chance to see the comet, know that it could be visible until Saturday October 19 with the naked eye, then you will need a telescope to have a chance to observe it.
Related News :