Some astronomers already nickname it the “comet of the century”. Comet C/2023 A3 Tsuchinshan-ATLAS is currently passing through the sky of the Northern Hemisphere since Saturday October 12, 2024.
From 7 p.m. in the sky
At its closest point, the comet C/2023 A3 is located approximately 71 million kilometers from Earth. This exceptional event follows the passage of the comet near the Sun on September 27, at a distance of 58 million kilometers.
For astronomy enthusiasts, the month of October is the opportunity to observe this comet. From 7 p.m., you can try to spot it on the western horizon before it disappears.
Specialists believe that this comet is one of the brightest in recent years. It is a rare opportunity to see such a celestial object with the naked eye.
Although it was first detected in January 2023 when it crossed Saturn’s orbit, its passage near Earth marks the culmination of its journey through the solar system.
A “full moon” or a “super moon”
A full moon will be visible this Thursday October 17 at 7:26 a.m., from your window. Although this phenomenon is sometimes referred to as a “Super Moon”, it does not meet the strict criteria defined by certain astronomers.
The term “Super Moon” was not invented by an astronomer, but by the American astrologer Richard Nolle in 1979. It took some time for astronomers to adopt the term “Super Moon“.
The original scientific name is, “perigee-syzygy of the Earth-Moon-Sun system“. A name considered too technical and long. However, despite a certain initial mistrust, the term gradually established itself in everyday language.
For fans of Super Moons, you will have to wait until November 25, 2034 to observe a full moon located less than 356,600 km from Earth.
As for the full moon closest to the century, it will occur on December 6, 2052at a distance of 356,425 km from Earth.
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