The night sky always fascinates with its mystery and infinity. Among its inhabitants, comets occupy a special place – mysterious guests from the distant corners of the solar system. Each of their appearances in the sky seems to us a small miracle, so astronomy lovers always want to see their flight with their own eyes. In recent years, we have already observed impressive shows: in 2019, comet C/2020 F3 (NEOWISE) shone, and in 2023, comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF) delighted us. And recently, another comet appeared on the horizon – C/2023 A3, which is set to light up our skies in October 2024. Ready to find out how to see it?
Comet C/2023 A3 is unique and should be seen by every astronomy enthusiast. Image source: wikimedia.org
Comet C/2023 A3
A real cosmic discovery took place in early 2023: the comet C/2023 A3, also known as Zijinshan-ATLAS, was discovered. Chinese astronomers from the Zijinshan Observatory discovered it on January 9, and a month later it was discovered by the ATLAS telescope, which is located in South Africa.
This celestial body flies along an unstable orbit, which means that it is likely to visit our solar system once and never return to us.
The closest approach to the Sun will occur on September 27, 2024, when the distance between them will be only 58 million kilometers. And on October 12, 2024, the comet will come closest to Earth, flying over our planet at a distance of approximately 70 million kilometers. Despite the fact that this is a large distance, at this time it can be seen even with the naked eye, which will undoubtedly be an unforgettable sight for all astronomy lovers.
Comet C/2023 A3 in September 2024, as seen from the Southern Hemisphere. Image source: wikipedia.org
Interestingly, the comet was considered “lost” for a time. After its first discovery in January, data about it was sent to the Minor Planet Center, but other observatories were unable to confirm its existence. Only a month later, thanks to observations by the ATLAS system, it became clear that this was the same comet that the Chinese astronomers had noticed. This is how it got its name, combining the names of both observatories.
Comet C/2023 A3 gradually gained brightness throughout 2023. By early 2024, its brightness was already sufficient to allow observation through medium-sized telescopes, and by the end of April, it became visible without special instruments. Despite some concerns that the comet's nucleus might disintegrate, in September it reappeared in the night sky, maintaining its integrity. And in the near future, we will be able to observe this space wanderer flying past us against the backdrop of the starry sky. We already wrote about this last year.
Read also: Did a comet destroy an ancient civilization 1,500 years ago – true or a mistake by scientists?
How to see a comet in October 2024
According to astronomers' forecasts, comet C/2023 A3 will become available for observation at the end of 2024. It will be visible in the southern hemisphere as early as the second half of September. However, after September 27, the comet will disappear from view for a short time.
The trajectory of comet C/2023 A3. Image source: habr.com
You will be able to see the comet with the naked eye again in early October in the northern hemisphere, that is, in Russia. During this period, it will gradually gain brightness, and by October 12, when it will be closest to Earth, its brightness may even reach zero magnitude, which means that it will become as bright as the stars in the night sky. However, it is difficult to make exact predictions, since the brightness of comets can change at any time.
To see Comet C/2023 A3, look for it in the night sky between the bright stars Spica in Virgo and Arcturus in Bootes. It will be passing through this part of the sky these days, and if you are lucky with the weather, you will be able to see it with the naked eye.
Changes in visibility of comet C/2023 A3. Image source: starwalk.space
To accurately determine the time and place of observation of the comet in your region, we recommend using special applications for amateur astronomers, such as Star Walk 2. They will tell you in which direction and at what time it is best to look for the comet.
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Comet C/2023 A3 is just one of the many mysterious phenomena that space gives us. But the Solar System hides many more secrets that we know much less about. If you want to learn about the most intriguing mysteries of space, read our article “5 Mysteries of the Solar System That Scientists Still Can’t Unravel.”