A comet that has been absent from our skies for tens of thousands of years is making a close approach to Earth, offering sky-gazers the chance to witness Comet A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS) with the naked eye.
This comet, discovered in January last year, is believed to orbit the inner solar system roughly every 80,000 years. The last time it came so close to our planet, Neanderthals were still roaming the Earth.
The Royal Astronomical Society (RAS) is abuzz with anticipation, with some enthusiasts dubbing it the “comet of the century”. Although there’s a slim chance of seeing it unaided, binoculars are the recommended tool for those hoping to catch a glimpse.
Dr Robert Massey of the RAS shared his enthusiasm, telling the Guardian: “We’re all really excited about the prospect of the Comet A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS) and how it might just be a nice bright object in the night sky.
“I would think that you’re going to need a pair of binoculars to pick it out, or a telescope if you have the right kind of telescope with a wide field and you know exactly where to look.
“But who knows, it might be visible to the naked eye as well. We’ll just have to wait and see.”
Originating from the Oort Cloud, a massive spherical shell that encases our solar system and contains billions of cometary objects, Comet A3 has already delighted observers in the southern hemisphere. Now, it’s the northern hemisphere’s turn to spot this ancient ice ball.
Wednesday, October 2, marked the close of the first opportunity to view the comet. It could be seen to the east shortly before the sun rose.
If it escaped your sight, fear not; from October 12 to 30, another chance arises. According to the RAS, this will be the prime period to witness the event, this time by casting your eyes westward just after dusk.
Dr Massey commented: “People are asking whether this will be some kind of ‘comet of the century’ if you read some news outlets they imply that.
“I don’t personally think that’s very likely. I think it’ll be a nice comet – and it looks as though it’s holding up for that – but it’s unlikely to be as easy to see as NEOWISE was in 2020 or Hale-Bopp in the late 1990s, which many of us still remember as being a really dazzling object.”
Moreover, Dr Massey offered advice for those keen on capturing Comet A3 with their cameras. He recommends using a quality DSLR camera capable of multiple exposures to get the best shot.
For enthusiasts lacking professional gear, he advised: “Also, if you have a good mobile phone camera and a small telescope, you can hold the mobile phone against the eyepiece of the telescope and try to take a picture that way.
“That worked well with comets like NEOWISE and it might work well with this one, depending on how bright it is. And if it’s genuinely easy to spot, you might, might be able to pick up your mobile phone, rest on something, and just point and shoot.”
