Comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS) is the comet on everyone's lips at the moment, and over the past weekend photographers and comet-chasers were out in force capturing amazing images of it.
For those of us who've been eagerly awaiting the appearance of Comet A3 all year, October 2024 is the month when we'll finally get to see whether it becomes a glorious naked-eye object.
Comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS) captured by Abhijit Patil over Big Sur, California, USA, 12 October 2024. Equipment: Nikon Z6ii(Astromodded) camera, Tamron 70-200mm lens, f/2.8. Kolari Vision - UV/IR cut Ha bandpass filter. Exposure: Single shot, comet tracked at f/3.2, 10sec, ISO400, 200mm. Processed in Lightroom and Photoshop
Comet C/2023 reached perihelion on 27 September, which is the point in its orbit when it's closest to the Sun.
The comet is now very close to the Sun in the sky, but will reemerge and become easier to observe mid-October, its separation from the Sun increasing as the month goes on.
Comet C/2023 A3 Tsuchinshan-ATLAS captured by Arash Sefidgaran, Mitcham Common, London, UK, 12 October 2024. Equipment: Nikon Z6II camera, Sigma 150-600mm lens at 310mm, f/5.6, ISO 4000. Software: Adobe Lightroom
The comet’s closest approach to Earth occurs on 12 October, and the days following this date will be some of our best chances to see it.
While we wait for that time, we're continuing to receive amazing images of Comet C/2023 A3 Tsuchinshan-ATLAS from photographers around the world.
Below is a gallery of some of the best we've received so far.
If you've been out and captured an image of comet A3, don't forget to send us your images, and we'll include our favourites in this very gallery.
A celestial wanderer in the Sicilian sky, Comet C/2023 A3 Tsuchinshan-ATLAS captured by Teresa Molinaro from Palermo, Sicily, Italy, 12 October 2024. Equipment: Nikon D7500 camera, 18-140mm lens
Comet C/2023 A3 Tsuchinshan-ATLAS captured by Reg Ramai from Barbados, 12 October 2024.
Comet C/2023 A3 Tsuchinshan-ATLAS captured by Kate Hoover, east of Sombrero Peak in Saguaro National Park West, Arizona, USA, 13 October 2024.
Comet C/2023 A3 Tsuchinshan-ATLAS captured by Arash Sefidgaran, Mitcham Common, London, UK, 12 October 2024. Equipment: Nikon Z6II camera, Sigma 150-600mm lens at 310mm, f/5.6, ISO 4000. Software: Adobe Lightroom
Comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS) captured by Abhijit Patil over Big Sur, California, USA, 12 October 2024. Equipment: Nikon Z6ii(Astromodded) camera, Tamron 70-200mm lens, f/2.8. Kolari Vision - UV/IR cut Ha bandpass filter. Exposure: Single shot, comet tracked at f/3.2, 10sec, ISO400, 200mm. Processed in Lightroom and Photoshop
Comet C/2023 A3 Tsuchinshan-ATLAS, captured by Gergely Tóth from La Palma, Canary Islands, 1 October 2024, 06:00 UTC. Equipment: Sony A7IIIa camera, Samyang AF 135mm f/1.8 lens, Benro Polaris tripod head. Sky: f/1.8, 8s, ISO 640 (8 panels in 1 row) Foreground: f/1.8, 4s, ISO 640 (8 panels in 1 row)
Image of Comet C/2023 A3 Tsuchinshan-ATLAS created using images captured by NASA's SOHO spacecraft, 9 October 2024. Credit: NASA/SOHO
Comet C/2023 A3 Tsuchinshan-ATLAS over the Pyramids of Giza, by Wael Omar. Equipment: Sony A7III astromodified Ha camera, Sigma 85mm F1.4 DG Art lens
Comet C/2023 A3 Tsuchinshan-ATLAS captured by Miguel Claro from the Dark Sky Alqueva region of Portugal, 29 September 2024
Comet C/2023 A3 Tsuchinshan-ATLAS captured by Miguel Claro from the Dark Sky Alqueva region of Portugal, 29 September 2024
Comet C/2023 A3 Tsuchinshan-ATLAS captured by Jean Cursino, Caçapava, São Paulo, Brazil. Equipment: Nikon d5300 camera, 50mm lens, ISO 250, f/2.2, 30"
Comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS) over Mount Sinai on the Sinai Peninsula of Egypt, captured by Osama Fathi, 28 September 2024, 05:30 local time.
Equipment: NikonZ6 Mod camera, Samyang 135mm lens. Comet (stacked): 60 photos (5sec, ISO 640, f2.8 ). Foreground: 5sec , Hdr
Comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS) over Molfetta, Italy, 28 September 2024, AROUND 06:00. Photo by Davide Pischettola/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS) over the skyscrapers of Madrid, Spain, known as the Four Towers Business Area. Photo by Marcos del Mazo/LightRocket via Getty Images
Comet C/2023 A3 Tsuchinshan-ATLAS near the village of Aguas Blancas, Lavalleja Department, Uruguay, dawn on September 28, 2024. Photo by MARIANA SUAREZ/AFP via Getty Images
Comet C/2023 A3 Tsuchinshan-ATLAS, captured by Grant Schwartzkopff, Paringa, South Australia, 28 September 2024, 04:35. Equipment: Nikon D5, 400MM Prime lens
Comet C/2023 A3 Tsuchinshan-ATLAS, captured by Grant Schwartzkopff, Paringa, South Australia, 28 September 2024, 04:35. Equipment: Nikon D5, 400MM Prime lens
Comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS) by Abhijit Patil, Lick Observatory, Mt. Hamilton, California, USA, 28 September 2024, 06:16. Equipment: Nikon Z6ii(Astromodded), Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8, Kolari Vision - UV/IR cut Ha bandpass filter. Comet tracked at f/2.8, 10sec, ISO100, 300mm. Foreground untracked at f/2.8, 25sec, ISO100, 300mm.
Comet C/2023 A3 Tsuchinshan-ATLAS photographed by NASA astronaut Don Pettit from the International Space Station using a Nikon Z9 camera, 200mm f/2 lens, 1/8", ISO 25600. Processed with Photoshop. Credit: NASA
Comet C/2023 A3 Tsuchinshan-ATLAS photographed by NASA astronaut Don Pettit from the International Space Station using a Nikon Z9 camera, 200mm f/2 lens, 1/8", ISO 25600. Processed with Photoshop. Credit: NASA
C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS) from the Southern Hemisphere, captured 1 August 2024, 17: 49 UTC, by José J. Chambó. Credit: José J. Chambó (www.cometografia.es)
Comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS) captured by José J. Chambo, remotely from Hakos Farm, Namibia, 26 June 2024, 18:03 UTC.
Equipment: Moravian C3-61000 camera, Takahashi FSQ106-ED f/5.0 refractor, ASA DDM60 Pro mount. Exposure: 18 min. (L=5x180 bin1 RGB=1x60 bin2). Processed with PixInsight
Credits: José J. Chambó (www.cometografia.es)
"Comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS) south of the constellation Leo on 26 June 2024, among heaps of distant galaxies, some with peculiar shapes. The comet shows a certain greenish hue in this image obtained remotely from the southern hemisphere, from where it will still be observable for a few more weeks before it plunges into the twilight and won't be observable again until October."
Comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS) captured by José J. Chambo from Vallés, Valencia, Spain on 8 May 2024 at 21:53 UTC. Equipment: Atik 383L camera, TS-Photon 8-inch f/3.6 Newtonian, Sky-Watcher EQ6R-Pro mount. Exposure 34 min. (L=31x60 bin1 RGB=1x60 bin2). Processed with PixInsight. Credit: José J. Chambó (www.cometografia.es)
Comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS) captured by José J. Chambo from Vallés, Valencia, Spain on 8 May 2024 at 21:53 UTC. Equipment: Atik 383L camera, TS-Photon 8-inch f/3.6 Newtonian, Sky-Watcher EQ6R-Pro mount. Exposure 34 min. (L=31x60 bin1 RGB=1x60 bin2). Processed with PixInsight. Credit: José J. Chambó (www.cometografia.es)
Comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS) captured by Kevin Johnson, East Sussex. 6x90" subs stacked.
Comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS) captured by José J. Chambó on 2 May 2024 from Vallés, Valencia, Spain. Equipment: Atik 383L camera, TS-Photon 8-inch f/3.6, Sky-Watcher EQ6R-Pro mount. Exposure" 47 min. (L=44x60 bin1 RGB=1x60 bin2)
José says: Comet C/2023 A3 shows a brightness that has remained at magnitude 10.5, the same as I recorded three weeks ago. However, the angular length of its tail has doubled, from 2.5' to 5', probably due to the increase in the phase angle, which implies that we now observe it more from the side. In the image, the comet's tail can be clearly seen extending to the left, with a bright and well-defined coma. This pause in the increase of brightness is common in comets visiting the inner Solar System for the first time. Hopefully, it will soon resume its brightening trend."
Credit: José J. Chambó (www.cometografia.es)
Image of Comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS) captured from Kendal, Cumbria, 17 April 2024 by Stuart Atkinson. Equipment: Canon 700D DSLR camera, 300mm lens, iOptron Sky Tracker motorised mount.
