Comet C/2023 A3 Tsuchinshan-ATLAS: an extreme image – 24 Sept. 2024.
After our last capture in July, we managed to recover comet C/2023 A3 Tsuchinshan-ATLAS from our observing facility in Central Italy. While an extreme image because of the extremely low altitude of the target, it confirms the comet is in very good shape.
C/2023 A3 Tsuchinshan-ATLAS. 24 Sept. 2024.
See comet C/2023 A3 Tsuchinshan-ATLAS at perihelion LIVE here!
The image above comes from the sigma clipping combination of 20, 5-second unguided exposures, remotely taken with the ARTEC250+Paramount ME+C3Pro61000EC robotic unit available as part of the Virtual Telescope Project facility in Manciano, Italy. The telescope tracked at the motion rates of the comet. The object was at just 3,4 degrees of altitude above the E horizon, with the Sun only 8 deg. below it, in very bright twilight. Partially hazy.
At such extremely low altitude, the airmass is around 17 times the one at zenith. This dramatically affects the apparent magnitude of the target, as the atmosphere scatters and absorbs its light; at 3.4 degrees of altitude, the drop in magnitudes is around 4,5, not considering the local haze.
Very likely, the next time we will see it, comet C/2023 A3 will be ready to hopefully amaze us.
It s interesting to compare images collected during our follow-up activities.
Comet C/2023 A3 was discovered on 9 Jan. 2023. Since it was announced, this icy world showed the potentially to reach naked eye visibility late in Sept. 2024, with chances to be remarkable around Oct. 9. At the moment, the comet is showing in very good health, with good hopes to have a nice show.
We will continue following up this promising comet.
On 9 Oct., we will show the comet live, online!
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