From this Saturday evening, comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS, nicknamed “the comet of the century”, will be visible to the naked eye in the sky of France for around 15 days. This rare and ephemeral spectacle promises to amaze observers in search of an exceptional celestial phenomenon.
Since this Saturday, October 12, 2024, a rare spectacle has been offered to astronomy enthusiasts and the curious in France. Comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS, nicknamed “the comet of the century”, is visible to the naked eye in the sky for a period of approximately 15 days. This celestial phenomenon, which has spanned the ages for millions of years, will not return near the Earth until at least 80,000 years old, thus offering a unique observation opportunity.
The passage of the comet has been observable throughout the Northern Hemisphere, and therefore in the French sky, since this Saturday evening, shortly after sunset. To maximize your chances of seeing this celestial body, it is advisable to look towards the west, towards the horizon, in the area where the sun fades. The ideal time to observe it is at nightfall, because the higher the comet rises in the sky, the more it loses its brilliance.
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A phenomenon not to be missed
Astronomy enthusiasts can use certain celestial landmarks to facilitate their observation. If you are able to spot the constellation of the Great Bear, concentrate on the tail of it. From there, find the bright star Arcturus, and the comet will be located slightly to the left of this star. If the sky is clear, you should see a bright spot accompanied by a long tail, a characteristic sight of comets. The magazine Sky and Space also published a detailed map allowing follow the trajectory of Tsuchinshan-ATLASthus making it easier to spot for less experienced observers.
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Tsuchinshan-ATLAS began its long journey millions of years ago from the Oort Cloud, a region at the edge of the solar system where countless small icy bodies are found. After crossing the path of the Sun recently, the comet was briefly invisible when it was located between the Earth and our star. This is a critical time for comets, because the heat from the Sun causes the ice contained in their core to sublimate, releasing gas and dust. This process forms a luminous head of hair, called a coma, and a tail that can extend millions of kilometers. This degassing makes comets spectacular but also exposes them to the risk of disintegration.
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An extraordinary journey
Tsuchinshan-ATLAS, also listed as C/2023 A3, however, survived this stage and is now showing itself in all its glory. This survivor even narrowly escaped disappearance, having been affected by a recent solar storm, responsible northern lights visible this week in France.
According to astronomers’ estimates, Tsuchinshan-ATLAS could have been at a distance of 400,000 times that which separates the Earth from the Sun before reaching us. This colossal journey, which lasted several million years, testifies to the immensity of the solar system and the cosmic forces that animate the Universe. As witnesses to this extremely rare event, we have the chance to contemplate an object that belongs to a distant era in the history of the Universe.
Passionate about women’s news, Agathe has been deciphering the latest trends for aufeminin since 2022. Her favorite areas? Psychology, nutrition and well-being advice, without forgetting the tips…