For the past two weeks we in the Stratford area have been treated to views in our post sunset skies of Comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS, (AKA C2023-A3).
This comet from the Oort cloud was first discovered by the Purple Mountain Observatory in chine on January 9, 2023 and independently found by ATLAS South Africa on February 22, 2023.
Now on its way back having passed around the Sun, it continues on a 80,000 year journey before its return. Back in 1996-1997, you might have seen Comet Hale-Bopp, another long-period comet and the most widely observed comet of the 20th century.
But, like all long-period comets, Hale-Bopp is not expected to return to the inner solar system until 4385.
Using the SeeStar S50, I was able to get images of the comet Sunday evening after 8:00 pm from the dark skies of South Perth. See these two images.
Keep looking up!
Tom Kimber – News