Celestial Happenings October 2024
I am a NASA girl through and through! I remember watching the Moon Landing in July 1969, and I’ve been a fan of all things planetary ever since.
I was lucky to see Comet NEOWISE in 2020 over a few nights in the northern sky.
Nothing compares with my most recent views of C/2023 A3 Tsuchinshan-ATLAS.
The NASA blog tells us the following:
“The Oort Cloud comet, called C/2023 A3 Tsuchinshan-ATLAS, was discovered in 2023, approaching the inner solar system on its highly elliptical orbit for the first time in documented human history. It was identified by observers at China’s Tsuchinshan – or “Purple Mountain” – Observatory and an ATLAS (Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System) telescope in South Africa. The comet was officially named in honor of both observatories.”
“The comet successfully made its closest transit past the Sun on Sept. 27. Scientists surmised it might well break up during that pass, its volatile and icy composition unable to withstand the intense heat of our parent star, but it survived more or less intact – and is now on track to come within approximately 44 million miles of Earth on Oct. 12.”
My best views were on October 13 to 15 evenings as it set alongside Venus in the western sky just after sunset.
The comet will be visible into November. However, it will be seen higher in the sky and dim over time.
Did you get a chance to see Comet C/2023 A3? Share your photos in the comments below!
It was right in front of us in the west at sunset but we were focused east looking for the moonrise. Dumkopfs 🙄🤯
What a beautiful photo of the comet you captured. Thank you for sharing!