jSince the end of September comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS C/2023 has been making news.  At the end of September it was visible in the morning sky just before sunrise as seen in the photo at right by Analemma Society member Bill Burton.

Bill took the photo from Shafer Canyon Overlook, Canyon lands National Park on the morning of Sep. 28th, one day after the comet reached perihelion, its closest approach to the sun. Its journey comes once every 80,000 years and this time we're set for a good view. The comet brightness versus twilight peaked between Oct. 11th and 13th.

On the 12th it passed closest to earth, seen low on the western horizon. If predictions are correct, the comet will be brighter than the planet Venus. Dr. Massey of the Royal Astronomical Society suggests, "I think my general advice for hunting something like a comet is use your eyes, but also use a pair of binoculars, sweep around - if it's as bright as expected hopefully it will be fairly obvious to pick up."

The comet will be visible in the western sky just after sunset until the end of October and possibly into early November.  If you come to the Roll-Top Observatory at Turner Farm, come early at the opening time of 7:30pm during clear sky Friday public nights and see the comet through our telescopes.

And bing a pair of binoculars.  It's a beautiful solar system phenomenon visible to all who look in the western sky.

Sky & Telescope on-line magazine made a chart of where to look for the comet in the evening sky.  It will continue to apear higher in the sky as we go through the month of October.  But the comet will be travelling farther away from the sun and therefore its head (nucleus) and long tail (coma) will get fainter as the days roll on.  Enjoy it while it lasts.