{"id":12630,"date":"2024-09-14T01:20:48","date_gmt":"2024-09-14T01:20:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/topat10.com\/?p=12630"},"modified":"2024-09-14T01:20:48","modified_gmt":"2024-09-14T01:20:48","slug":"how-to-view-the-comet-of-the-century-c-2023-a3","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/topat10.com\/?p=12630","title":{"rendered":"How to View the \u2018Comet of the Century\u2019 C\/2023 A3"},"content":{"rendered":"


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This story originally<\/span> appeared on<\/em> WIRED en Espa\u00f1ol<\/em><\/a> and has been translated from Spanish.<\/em><\/p>\n

C\/2023 A3, also known as Tsuchinshan\u2013ATLAS and considered \u201cthe comet of the century,\u201d will appear in all its splendor in our sky during September and October 2024. Due to its characteristics, astronomers believe it will be exceptionally bright, similar to Halley\u2019s comet in 1986 or NEOWISE in 2020.<\/p>\n

Comets like C\/2023 A3 are balls of frozen gases, rocks, and dust that orbit the sun. They are often spectacular because of two physical phenomena that occur during their journey.<\/p>\n

The first is the tail, which stretches out from the nucleus of the comet as it gets closer to the star that it\u2019s orbiting. Solar radiation from the star\u2014in our case the sun\u2014vaporizes some of the comet\u2019s frozen material, blowing gas and dust away from the nucleus that then reflects the star\u2019s light. As a comet gets closer to its star, it\u2019s tail grows in size because of the increase in solar radiation.<\/p>\n

The second phenomena is the comet\u2019s coma. This is an envelope of sublimated ice that forms a kind of atmosphere around the nucleus as it approaches its star, again because of solar radiation. This also enhances the comet\u2019s brightness.<\/p>\n

What Is the Best Day to See the Comet?<\/h2>\n

C\/2023 A3 will shine in the northern hemisphere sky from September 27 and will remain visible until the last week of October. During this period, the comet will reach its minimum distance from the sun, before beginning its journey back out of the solar system.<\/p>\n

According to the specialized blog Cometography, the day when C\/2023 A3 will shine the brightest will be October 2. The comet\u2019s tail will be long and spectacular at this point due to its proximity to the sun.<\/p>\n

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