Long-suffering astronomers are already watching one potentially bright Comet A3 (C/2023 A3 Tsuchinshan-ATLAS) race into the inner solar system. If things go perfectly it could end up as one of the brightest comets ever recorded that is visible from the Northern Hemisphere in over 100 years.
A Comet’s Risky Journey
But like dung-beetle pushing that ball o’ poo up a slope, Comet A3 has been roaming sunward, and it’s been having a tough time of things. It should also be noted about when the comet will reach perihelion, its closest point in the orbit around the Sun — which is on or near Sept. 27. At this point the comet is at a theatre in which it could possibly break up and die thanks to the enormous heat and gravity of the Sun.
The comet is under close supervision by astronomers and so far it seems to have shown some promise. Comet A3 is brightening rapidly; its current magnitude of +4 places it right on the edge of naked-eye visibility. This a hopeful development, but the fate of the comet is far from certain.
Assuming Comet A3 survives its close call with the Sun, it could make for an amazing sight in the night sky from mid-October for watchers in North America. The comet is meant to look at in the night sky to the northwestern horizon now and it might perhaps acquire a negative brightness, which means that it might be one of many brightest comets seen in a century.
A Window of Opportunity
Comet A3 will be at its best in mid-October with the closest approach to Earth. The comet heads closest to us — about 44 million miles (71 million kilometers) away — on October 12, which should be a great chance for skywatchers.
Astronomers are optimistic that the comet has a good chance of putting on a show, and some experts believe it may get bright enough for observers in the Northern Hemisphere to see with the unaided eye. Still, they warn that comets are fickle and the comet could dim more suddenly than expected as it moves toward its tightest alignment with Earth and the sun.
With this in mind, astronomers advise bringing a pair of binoculars or a small telescope to maximize your viewing. Its visible tail, which is probably made of dust and ice, could glow like a bright white or blue streak across the sky. How the tail appears depends on how the comet is oriented and how it reflects sunlight, a phenomenon called forward scattering.
Nothing has yet been set in stone about the comets future, however these few weeks will be pivotal for astronomer and amateur skywatchers alike. But if Comet A3 does perform as advertised, it could be the astronomical equivalent of a unicorn.
Conclusion
In the last year of this one, 2023 will witness another big deal: a bright comet in the new millenniumIt was discovered by HEADS A3 in January 2022 and is expected to be one of the brightest comets visible from the northern hemisphere during its final encounter with Earth’s space.Next century Cometary A3 or C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS) is a perceived long-period Oort Cloud missile. While the comet’s future is still in question, and its approach to the sun could evaporate much of the ice inside it, like ISON at this time last year, astronomers are cautiously optimistic that it will put on a great display in mid-October. If Comet A3 successfully makes it out of the inner solar system, it may well offer a once-in-a-lifetime chance for society to marvel at one of these cosmic fireworks displays.
