Comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS:
Some of the best things in life are wonderful surprises. We first learned about this comet in early 2023, thanks to astronomers at China’s Purple Mountain Observatory (Tsuchinshan means “purple mountain”) and South Africa’s Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System (ATLAS). It is pronounced sue-cheen-SHAHN. The comet is aptly named after these two groups—shortened, it’s known as C/2023 A3, or simply A3.
Sunday night was the first night people in the Houston area could see it! The pictures posted here were sent to our Click 2 Pins page!
How to see comet A3:
To catch a glimpse of the comet, find a viewing location with an unobstructed view to the west—free from trees, buildings, and clouds along the horizon. Aim to look about 45 minutes after sunset. The comet will be positioned between the planet Venus and the bright star Arcturus, almost exactly halfway between them. If you have binoculars, they’ll enhance your viewing experience. Each evening after the 14th, the comet will move slightly to the upper left. As twilight deepens, it may become easier to spot, although keep in mind that the comet will also be fading.
An exact timetable:
This is from my friend Tony Rice. “The table below is calculated for Houston, with rise and set times for the comet and an indication of how height above the horizon the comet will be at sunrise/sunset and dawn/dusk. Smaller distance numbers are better (brighter), Larger elongation numbers (angular separation from the Sun) are better (less likely to get lost in the Sun’s glare) Larger altitude numbers (higher above the treeline) are better (easier to see). Visibility column is based on elongation. Happy comet hunting.”
What is a comet:
What you are seeing is basically a block of ice. The comet’s solid nucleus, the source of its spectacle, is essentially a dirty space iceberg, likely just a few miles wide. It has journeyed from the cold, dark reaches of the outer solar system, originating in a region known as the Oort Cloud. As the comet approaches the Sun’s warmth, some of the ice in its nucleus, frozen carbon dioxide, and other volatiles—evaporate. This creates a haze of sunlit dust and glowing gas, forming the comet’s visible head and its streaming tail, which can extend for millions of miles.
If you get any pictures, please share them with me at www.click2houston.com/pins or email me at ayanez@kprc.com.
