C/2023 A3, the “Comet of the Century” is Coming

C/2023 A3also known as Tsuchinshan-Atlas And renamed it “Comet of the Century“It will appear in all its glory in the sky in the months September and October 2024Given its properties, astronomers believe it will be so. exceptionally brightas big as Halley’s Comet in 1986 or NEOWISE in 2020.

Comets like C/2023 A3 are balls of gas, rock, and icy dust that orbit the Sun. Its amazing nature is due to two physical phenomena. that occur during their journey.

The first is CodaWhich extends from the nucleus of the comet as it approaches the star it orbits. Solar radiation from the star – the Sun in our case – causes some of the icy material of the celestial body to evaporate, which causes gas and dust to be transported away from the nucleus, which then reflects the star’s light. As the comet approaches the star, its tail grows in size due to the increased solar radiation.

The second phenomenon is ShiomaIt is a layer of sublimated ice that forms a kind of atmosphere around the nucleus of the comet as it approaches its star. It is always formed due to solar radiation and in this case the comet’s brightness also increases.

What is the best day to see the C/2023 A3?

C/2023 A3 will shine In the Northern Hemisphere sky starting September 27 It will remain visible. Until the last week of OctoberDuring this period, the comet will reach its lowest distance from the sun, before beginning its return journey out of the solar system.

According to the specialized blog Comet photographyThe day the C/2023 A3 will shine brighter will be October 2where the comet’s tail will be long and spectacular due to its proximity to the sun.

What time will the comet be visible?

Thanks to its short distance from our parent star, the comet will behave similarly to Mercury and Venus: it will be visible near the horizon, in the path of the Sun and just before dawn. The perfect window to admire it will be Between 5 and 7 am starting September 27thThe time and place will be the same in the Northern Hemisphere.