The Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Emirates Astronomical Society and member of the Arab Union for Astronomical and Space Sciences, Ibrahim Al Jarwan, stated that the residents of the Emirates and the general population of the Earth, and not just astronomers with their instruments, will be able to see the comet (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS (C/2023 A3) with the naked eye during next October, noting that It is currently moving between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter, and it can only be viewed through a “telescope” as it moves between these two orbits.
Al-Jarwan explained that he called it the “Comet of the Year,” as it is expected to increase in brightness and have a tail, which means that by the time it passes during the fall, it may shine in the Earth’s night sky more than many stars, and residents in the Emirates will be able to monitor it.
He added that the newly discovered comet is expected to pass by Earth in the month of October, and by the time it passes near the planet, during the period from October 8 to 14, 2024, it may sometimes be as bright as the luminous planet Venus in the night sky, the brightest object in the sky. It makes it the “brightest comet,” so it is visible to the naked eye.
He stated that the best opportunity will be at its closest location to the sun on October 10, where it will be easily visible in the northern hemisphere, while in the southern hemisphere it will be visible immediately after sunset.
Al-Jarwan pointed out that astronomers discovered this comet in February of last year, in joint work between the “telescope” of the Terrestrial Asteroid Impacts Last Warning System (ATLAS) in South Africa, and the Chinese “Tsuchinshan” Observatory, and therefore it was called (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS). Its orbit is 80 thousand years, so it is considered a long-orbiting comet.
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