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Comet A3: Icy Visitor from Oort Cloud Brightens, Best Viewing Times Revealed

Comet A3: A Rare Visitor from the Distant Oort Cloud Brightens in the Night Sky, with Prime Viewing Times Now Revealed for Stargazers

Comet A3 Brightens: Best Viewing Times and Tips to Watch
Comet A3 Brightens: Best Viewing Times and Tips to Watch

Comet C/2023 A3, discovered in January 2023, is set to put on a stunning display as it passes through the inner solar system. Also known as Comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS, this icy visitor from the Oort Cloud is expected to reach its peak brightness in the coming weeks, offering stargazers a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to witness its celestial show. Here’s what you need to know about this comet and when to catch a glimpse of it.

What is Comet A3 and when to see it

Comet A3, formally known as C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan–ATLAS), is a long-period comet discovered by the Purple Mountain Observatory in China and the ATLAS telescope in South Africa in January 2023. It originates from the Oort Cloud, a vast collection of icy objects that surrounds our solar system, and is making its first trip through the inner solar system in approximately 80,000 years.

Comet A3 will reach its closest point to the Sun, known as perihelion, on September 27, 2024, at a distance of 0.39 AU (58 million km). This close encounter with the Sun is expected to cause the comet to brighten significantly, potentially becoming visible to the naked eye in the early morning sky.

The best viewing opportunities for Comet A3 in the Northern Hemisphere will be:

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  • September 27 to October 2: Look for the comet low in the eastern sky about an hour before sunrise
  • October 10-12: The comet will be at its brightest, with a magnitude of -3 to -1, and will be visible in the western sky shortly after sunset

Brightness Predictions

Comet A3 is expected to put on a spectacular show as it approaches the Sun. Astronomers predict that the comet could reach a magnitude of -4 or brighter around October 9, 2024, thanks to the effects of forward scattering, which can boost the comet’s brightness by several magnitudes.

However, comets are notoriously unpredictable, and their brightness can change rapidly. While Comet A3 is expected to be a bright and impressive sight, it’s important to remember that its actual appearance may differ from predictions.

How to Observe Comet A3

At the moment, the comet is approaching the solar system from the inside. It will be at its brightest on September 27, when it makes its path to the sun. Early in the morning is the ideal time to see it. This means that you will need to get up by 4 am in order to observe the cosmic visitor. Even though it won’t be as brilliant, it will still be visible until at least October 2.

But don’t worry if you miss it this time. In the upcoming days, Comet A3 will make another pass by Earth. When it gets to the sun, it will begin its journey back. This is the moment when it will once more pass in front of our globe and emerge in our skies.

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Written by Rishika Shahi

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