THE comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinschan-ATLAS), nicknamed “comet of the century” for your shine, will become visible again in the night sky this week . The celestial body reaches its closest point to Earth on Saturday night (12).
The comet’s nickname was given after initial predictions pointed to its high potential to shine in the night sky. Although the comet’s maximum brightness is uncertain, it is comparable to the 1997 comet Hale-Bopp, which became one of the brightest of the 20th century.
On Saturday (12), the comet should be just 71 million km from our planet, becoming visible again in the night sky after a period in which it was overshadowed by the Sun’s light.
The “comet of the century” was visible to the naked eye from Brazil at the end of September just before dawn. After passing through the Sun, it becomes visible again, but it is necessary to look for it in a different place and time.
OC/2023 A3 was discovered last year by the Chinese Tsuchinshan Observatory and later confirmed by the ATLAS (Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System) system.
How to observe the “comet of the century”?
The comet should be visible to the naked eye throughout Brazil again, but it is recommended that the observer is in a place far from the city lights, where the night sky is dark, with the western horizon completely free.
To find C/2023 A3, just look at the sky just after sunset, heading west (the same as the Sun sets) and look for the comet close to the constellations of Serpent and Ophiuchus.
Astronomer Rodolfo Langhi, coordinator of the Didactic Astronomy Observatory at Unesp, points out that, even if the comet is visible to the naked eye, this largely depends on the conditions of the place where the observer is. Using binoculars or a telescope can make observation easier.
The biggest challenge is finding an observation point from which it is possible to see the horizon line free of buildings, constructions or mountains towards the west. Pollution, city lights or the presence of clouds can also get in the way.
Rodolfo Langhi also points out that, even if the comet is not visible to the naked eye, the cell phone camera in night mode may be able to capture it.
Check it out here astronomy apps to help locate and track astronomical phenomena in the night sky.
This content was originally published in “Comet of the century” gets closer to Earth this week; how to observe? on the CNN Brasil website.
Source: CNN Brasil
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