The comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS), the most anticipated comet of the year, was spotted in the sky over Quy Nhon City, Binh Dinh Province on the morning of September 29.
On the afternoon of September 29, Mr. Le Quang Thuy, an astronomy expert and advisor at the Quy Nhon Science Discovery Center, confirmed that the images captured by photographers in Quy Nhon on the morning of September 29 were indeed the comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS). This is because astronomers worldwide had calculated the trajectory and the appearance time of this comet, which allowed us to see it.
The tail of comet C/2023 A3 is very clear and easy to observe – (Photo: HOANG DUC NGOC).
In a conversation with the press on the afternoon of September 29, Mr. Hoang Duc Ngoc (from Quy Nhon City), who captured images of the comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS), shared that he is an astronomy enthusiast and enjoys exploring this field.
“I learned about the comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS) through astronomy study groups and social media. To take these photos, I went to Phuong Mai Peninsula in Quy Nhon early on the morning of September 29, prepared with all my cameras and tripods.
At around 4 AM, I started observing and photographing the comet. By 5 AM, when the sun had risen, I could no longer see the comet,” Ngoc shared.
The comet appeared right over Phuong Mai Peninsula (Quy Nhon City) early on September 29 – (Photo: HOANG DUC NGOC).
According to Ngoc, based on information from astronomers, this comet originates from the Oort Cloud in the Solar System. People can see the comet just above the eastern-southeastern horizon in the constellation Virgo, about 30-45 minutes before sunrise until October 2.
However, binoculars are recommended for better observation since its apparent magnitude is only around 3.5. Unlike meteors that appear instantaneously, comets move very slowly across the sky, allowing for extended viewing.
A Comet That Appears Once Every 80,000 Years According to earth.com, the comet C/2023 A3 has an orbit around the sun that lasts over 80,000 years. It was first seen on September 27 and will be observable until October 2. It is expected to appear as a dim ball with a tail stretching across the sky. “C/2023 A3 has an orbital period of about 80,000 years and is classified as a long-period comet. This means its behavior and appearance may be unpredictable, with potential changes in brightness and tail development as it approaches the sun,” said Minjae Kim, a space expert at the University of Warwick (UK). “If everything goes as predicted, we might see it with the naked eye. Otherwise, binoculars or small telescopes may reveal more details about the structure and tail of the comet,” Kim added. Scientists stated that if C/2023 A3 “survives” its journey around the sun (as comets often break apart when nearing the sun), it could be visible to the naked eye when closest to Earth, with the best viewing expected from October 12 to October 20. Starwalk, a stargazing app, has noted that this comet is “the most anticipated comet of the year.” |
