Stargazers around the world are eagerly anticipating the arrival of Comet A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS), which has been touted as the ‘comet of the century’ by some. According to the Royal Astronomical Society, this comet could potentially be visible to the naked eye or at least with binoculars, making it a must-see event. However, the society’s Dr. Robert Massey cautions that it is unlikely to be as dazzling as past comets like NEOWISE in 2020 or Hale-Bopp in the late 1990s. Nevertheless, this rare celestial occurrence, which last graced our skies when Neanderthals roamed the planet, is sure to captivate stargazers around the globe.
The Celestial Spectacle
The rise of Comet A3, whose other name is Tsuchinshan-ATLAS, has created a great deal of excitement in the astronomical community and even among laymen. Seen for the first time in January 2023, this comet is about to make its closest approach to the Sun and encourage stargazers on both hemispheres to watch out for a brilliant show.
If astronomers are proven correct, Comet A3 could be visible to the naked eye — or at least with some binoculars, which qualifies as a pretty rare and cool celestial event. The comet is thought to come from the Oort Cloud, a large, spherical shell of icy objects around our Solar System, that is filled with billions of comets.
This makes for a truly spectacular sight because it hasn’t been visible from Earth since the time when Neanderthals walked among us, some 80,000 years ago. As a result it will be the first time that many of us have had the opportunity to see this remarkable spectacle in our lifetimes.
Observing Comet A3
For those hoping to catch a glimpse of Comet A3, stargazers will have two chances in the months ahead. The first will be from September 27 to October 2, which is when the comet can be seen in the eastern sky before sunrise. The comet will soon be visible in the western sky shortly after sunset — and although it won’t get too close to Earth, despite what you might have heard, the celebrity status has driven one astronomer to dub this a “binocular” comet.
Dr Robert Massey of the Royal Astronomical Society said that while Comet A3 is an exciting prospect, it will probably not be as eye-catching as some comets of recent years, such as NEOWISE in 2020 or Hale-Bopp in the late 1990s. But he says dedicated astrophotographers as well as those with DSLR cameras or mobile phones that can be fixed up to a small telescope may still get the best views of the celestial visitor.
We’ll find out soon enough if Comet A3 lives up to the “comet of the century” hype, and in the meantime, this cosmic show is going to keep stargazers from all over captivated. Well, as Dr Massey puts it, we ‘will just have to wait and see’ this cosmic show.
Preparing for the Cosmic Show
They are urging stargazers to get ready for the best show they can. That could mean buying a new pair of binoculars or small telescope to go hunting for it and brushing up on what is known about the comet’s trek across the night sky.
The Royal Astronomical Society also has some tips for anyone hoping to photograph the comet using DSLR cameras and mobile phones attached to telescopes. Astrophotographers would be able to capture this unique event through a series of exposures or the ‘phone-through-the-eyepiece’ technique.
Whether Comet A3 ultimately fulfills this promise, its arrival serves as a reminder of the glories of our celestial home and the emerging nature of our astronomy. In the meantime, however, bear in mind that it is a privilege to see this kind of spectacular celestial event at all — and a joy that should be shared with the other stargazing hobbyists around you.
