One of the most important comets to pass close to Earth this century, will be visible more clearly this month of October. Nicknamed the “Comet of the Century”, the comet’s closest approach to Earth will occur on Sunday (13). According to researcher Filipe Monteiro, from the National Observatory (ON), “the distance is equivalent to 70,724,459 kilometers, while its perihelion (closest approach to the Sun) occurred on Friday (September 27)”.
During the month of August and until the last week of September, the comet was overshadowed by the Sun’s brightness, due to its low elongation (apparent proximity to the Sun), which made its observation difficult. Earlier, in the week of September 22, it could be seen in the sky at dawn.
Monteiro said that between October 7th and 11th, the comet will get very close to the Sun again, but, after this phase, it will be possible to observe it shortly after sunset.
Naked eye
According to the researcher, it is not yet possible to guarantee that the comet will be visible to the naked eye, as the intensity of the brightness of these celestial bodies can be unpredictable. “It may be necessary to use binoculars or telescopes to observe it,” he said.
Observation
To get a better view of the “Comet of the Century” it is essential to choose a location away from light pollution. Anyone who wants to observe it must position themselves with their eyes or instruments facing the eastern horizon, where the Sun rises, at around 4:30 in the morning. Monteiro informed that “it may be possible to identify a diffuse spot that can be better visualized with the help of instruments such as binoculars or cameras”.
In the second half of October, the comet can be seen shortly after sunset, on the western horizon, as it transits the constellation Sextant. (September), Serpent and Ophiuchus (October). All of Brazil will be able to witness the passage of comet C/2023 A3.
Monteiro clarified that “the biggest difficulty will be finding a place with an unobstructed western horizon, as the comet will be low in the sky, at a height of up to 30 degrees”, he added.
Name
The nickname “Comet of the Century” was given to C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS) because its brightness is comparable to that of Comet Hale-Bopp, which reached a similar magnitude in 1997, making it one of the brightest of the 20th century.
The letter “C” indicates that it is a non-periodic comet, that is, it originates in the Oort Cloud and can pass through the Solar System just once or take thousands of years to return.
The designation “2023 A3” reveals that it was the third object of its type discovered in the first half of January 2023, while the suffix Tsuchinshan-ATLAS refers to the institutions involved in its discovery.
Filipe Monteiro clarified that comets are remnants of the formation of the solar system, composed of dust, rock and different types of ice. They vary in size, with some being up to tens of kilometers in diameter. “As they approach the Sun, comets heat up and release gases and dust, forming their glowing tails,” he concluded.
