On October 12, the most anticipated comet of 2024, C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS), will arrive at its closest point to Earth.
It will appear in the western sky after sunset, and interested members of the public can spot it with the naked eye. However, the naked eye observation time is shorter, with a window of about 10 to 20 minutes.
△ Simulation: The angular distance between the comet and the Sun reaches 14° at sunset on October 12
Purple Mountain-Atlas Comet "Brief Biography"
Comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS) was discovered in 2023 and is the 8th comet discovered by the Purple Mountain Observatory of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, known as Purple Mountain-Atlas Comet in Chinese.
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. ”
△ C/2023 The path of Comet A3 (Purple Mountain-Atlas) through the sky
In fact, the comet passed perihelion for a week or so from the end of September to the beginning of October. Due to the morning light, it is difficult to observe with the naked eye. However, there are still photographers in some parts of the country who have captured this starry sky spectacle.
In the early morning of September 28, many starry sky photography enthusiasts across the country took action to observe the Purple Mountain-Atlas Comet. Photographers from Nanjing, Jiangsu, Lishui, Zhejiang, Songjiang, Shanghai, and Zhaotong in Yunnan have photographed the Purple Mountain-Atlas Comet.
△ On October 2, the comet appeared over Beijing
According to reports, 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.
How do I observe and photograph?
On October 12, Comet Purple Mountain-Atlas reached perigee and entered its best observation period. How should the public observe and photograph?
According to astronomy enthusiasts, to observe and photograph comets, it is necessary to choose to stay away from large urban areas and without the influence of lights. At the same time, the western direction should have a wide view, without the obstruction of tall buildings, large trees and mountains.
Comets can be observed with astronomical telescopes or binoculars.
To photograph a comet, you need to use a stable tripod to fix the camera or mobile phone, use the manual focus mode to focus on the reference object as far away as possible, manually set the exposure time according to the brightness of the sky background and the brightness of the comet, and the maximum exposure is more than 4 seconds per frame, and the sensitivity ISO is controlled within the allowable range of noise.
How long will this "visitor" last?
It is reported that the Purple Mountain-Atlas Comet is a non-periodic comet, with a special elliptical orbit, and it takes about 61,751 years to orbit the sun, that is, it only has the opportunity to see it once every 60,000 years, which is very worth looking forward to.
So, how long can this "visitor from the sky" watch this time?
In the next few days, with the exception of October 12, the comet will be more visible to the naked eye due to its rapidly increasing angular distance from the Sun, ushering in the best observation period, with it 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 gradually decreases as it moves away from the Sun and the Earth, and it will be difficult to observe with the naked eye from about November, according to current forecasts.
Source: CCTV Comprehensive Chao News, Xinhua News Agency, CCTV News
Editor-in-charge: Luo Qiuxu
Responsible proofreading for Cat Enbo
Editor-in-chief: Yan Yun
Final Review: Editorial Board Member Cao Jie