The most anticipated comet of 2024, C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS), made its closest approach to Earth on the 12th. On that day, it will appear in the evening sky, regardless of phase angle scattering, and is expected to be at a magnitude of 2.8, with the possibility of increasing brightness in the event of an outbreak. Interested members of the public can spot it with the naked eye in the western sky after sunset.
According to Wang Kechao, director of science popularization at the Purple Mountain Observatory of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, according to the comet photos that have been taken, C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS) is a comet with a yellow comet. "As it approaches the Sun, the temperature rises due to increased radiation, and the comet material sublimates, forming hazy coma and a tail of thin material around the comet's nucleus, like a broomstick. The tail of a comet can be divided into ionic tails, which are usually blue in color, and dust tails, which are determined by the sunlight reflected by the dust. ”
"Actually, October 4 is the day when the comet reaches its peak brightness, but it is difficult for us to observe it with the naked eye because it is so close to the sun that day." For the Northern Hemisphere public, on Oct. 12, the comet will appear in the western low, shortly after sunset, in the constellation Virgo, but with a short window of about 10 to 20 minutes, Wang said. In the next few days, the comet will be more visible to the naked eye due to its rapidly increasing angular distance from the Sun, and it will be visible in the western sky about an hour after sunset. In late October, the comet's brightness waned, but as the angular distance from the Sun continued to increase, the public could observe it for a longer period of time, with a two- to three-hour observation period after dark.
Since the comet's orbit is parabolic, its brightness decreases as it moves away from the Sun and Earth, and according to current forecasts, it will be difficult to observe with the naked eye from about November.
The C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS) is close to the Earth and has high brightness, which not only brings a "visual feast" to the public, but also provides a good opportunity for scientists to explore the mysteries of the comet. "By studying the comet's orbit and its dynamics, we can further understand the mechanisms of comet formation and evolution. Analyzing the material composition of comets, especially the proportion of volatile components in them, can help to reveal the origin of comets and the material conditions of the early solar system. Through continuous observations, we can also understand the evolution of comet activity and discover possible gas explosions. Zhao Haibin, a researcher at the Purple Mountain Observatory, said.
(Source: Xinhua News Agency)