The comet C/2023 A3 Tsuchinshan-ATLAS made a shimmering appearance last night, at around 10 pm, over the Attica sky, and those lucky enough to look up as it passed by saw a unique sight.
“ATLAS” was first discovered in 2023 when it first appeared in our inner solar system and has recently been dubbed “the comet of the century” for how bright it is and how easily it can be seen from Earth.
In addition to Attica, the comet was also visible from other areas, including Lesvos.
This is a long-period comet that returns to the inner solar system once every 80,000 years, so it will be slow to reappear.
As the Royal Astronomical Society of Britain says, “It was last visible from Earth when the Neanderthals were walking on the planet“.
@astrohawaiiComet ☄️ C/2023 A3 Tschinshan-ATLAS from the Ossipoff Cabin 🏚️ in West O’ahu, Hawai’i 🌴 West O’ahu Hawai’i 10/13/24 📷 Sony a7iii and 20mm 1.8 ⚙️ 340 shots in AP mode, IS0 640, f/1.8, 10 sec interval #comet #nightsky #astronomy #hawaii #hawaiitiktok ♬ Die With A Smile – Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars
On 27 September 2024, Comet A3 reached its perihelion, the closest point to the Sun, at a distance of 58 million kilometres. On 12 October it began its closest passage from Earth, at a distance of about 70 million kilometres.
@johnmarkmywordsThe Comet ☄️ is here! This footage thanks to Jonathan Sambrisk, lancasterilluminated on IG. He wrote a caption, “What a year it’s been so far for astronomical events. A total solar eclipse, the aurora, and now a comet. I headed down to my favorite local overlook this evening in search of the comet Tsuchinshan-Atlas. About 45 minutes after sunset, a faint blur appeared on the horizon. Soon you could even see the tail with the naked eye! I’m glad that I got to glimpse and photograph this amazing comet before it leaves us to return in 80 thousand years 📸: Sony A7siii, 70-300 G lens at 130 mm, ISO 640, F5, aperture priority mode ♬ original sound – John Mark
In its first appearance, in addition to Attica, the ancient comet lit up the sky over Russia, China, North Macedonia, Spain, and the US, and images of it flooded the internet.
@piet_flosse😱 C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS) ☄️ 📍Lienz/Austria 🇦🇹 The new comet Tsuchinshan Atlas can now be seen every day in the evening sky here in Europe. All you have to do is look towards the sunset one hour after sunset and make sure you are in a region where there is little light pollution. The comet will now rise a little higher every day, so keep your eyes open. #comet #tsuchinshanatlas #timelapse #nighlapse #nightsky #earth #earthfocus #universe ♬ Icarus Slow Version – BODENSTEDT
