A Russian Su-35 fighter pilot is reported to have captured an image of comet C/2023 A3, which appears once every 70,000 years.
A rare photograph has surfaced on the Telegram account Fighterbomber, believed to have close ties to the Russian Air Force. Some even assert that this account is operated by a Russian Air Force pilot.
According to Fighterbomber, the photo was taken from the cockpit of a Russian Su-35 fighter jet.
The image depicts a view from above the clouds, with a populated area below illuminated by city lights. In the sky above, a small white object with a characteristic conical tail of a comet can be seen. However, the exact location where the photo was taken has not been determined.
Image purportedly showing comet C/2023 A3, also known as Tsuchinshan -ATLAS or Zijinshan – ATLAS.
Discovered in January 2023, comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan – ATLAS) was identified almost simultaneously by two independent observatories – the Tsuchinshan Observatory in China and the ATLAS system based in Hawaii.
Like other comets, this icy celestial body orbits the Sun, and as it approaches, the heat causes its ice to vaporize, creating a stunning tail of gas and dust.
Initial calculations indicate that the comet will pass quite close to Earth in the fall of 2024. At that time, it may be visible to the naked eye if it continues to brighten.
C/2023 A3 follows a very elongated orbit, meaning it is returning to the Solar System after a long absence – possibly thousands or even millions of years.
Although predictions about the brightness of C/2023 A3 remain uncertain, the prospects are promising. If conditions remain favorable and the comet does not disintegrate as it approaches the Sun, it could create a spectacular display in the sky, potentially visible even from urban areas affected by light pollution.
For astronomers and stargazers, this rare event presents a unique opportunity to study a comet from the outer reaches of the Solar System. Witnessing such a celestial body at close range could make this one of the most notable comet phenomena in recent years.
There are claims that comet C/2023 A3 may only pass by Earth once every 70,000 years, based on its orbit, which is highly likely.
Long-period comets like this one typically originate from the Oort Cloud and follow extremely elongated elliptical orbits. These objects can take thousands to millions of years to complete a single orbit around the Sun.
Orbital calculations indicate that C/2023 A3 has a high eccentricity, and its return after a long absence suggests it may have spent most of its time far out in the Solar System previously.
If this estimate is accurate, the comet’s orbit could mean that after its flyby in 2024, it will not return for tens of thousands of years. This makes the upcoming flyby even more exciting for scientists and sky observers.
As for the photo allegedly taken by a pilot on a Russian Su-35 during the comet’s passage, this has yet to be verified by official astronomical organizations or major media outlets.
If this claim is true, it would be an extremely rare event. While it is certainly possible that a pilot captured such an image, photographing a comet from a fighter jet would be a significant challenge.
Comets like C/2023 A3, while bright, often appear as faint, glowing objects that are difficult to detect from the ground, let alone from the air.
Observing a comet from an aircraft is a rare phenomenon due to the atmospheric layers the pilot flies through and the fact that planes are not designed for astronomical observation.
It seems more plausible that the image was taken using specialized equipment on the aircraft rather than a pilot casually spotting the comet during a routine flight.
Until confirmation from NASA, ESA, or other reputable astronomical agencies, caution should be exercised regarding the authenticity of this image.
While the story of the pilot’s sighting is intriguing, it is advisable to remain cautious until there is official verification.
