«Comet of the century» in Spain — where and when it can be seen

Until mid-October in Spain will be possible to observe the «comet of the century». So astronomers called the comet C/2023 A3, also known as Tsuchinshan-ATLAS. If it does not collapse as it approaches the Sun in late September, it will cross the Earth’s sky in mid-October and become one of the brightest of the last 100 years. 

Tsuchinshan-ATLAS was discovered on January 9, 2023 by astronomers from the Tsuchinshan Observatory in China and confirmed by ATLAS. Scientists found that there is a lot of ice on its surface, which is gradually evaporating. Therefore, the brightness of the comet will increase as it approaches the Sun, so it can be observed from both the northern and southern hemispheres, including Spain. 

If Tsuchinshan-ATLAS can survive the journey around the Sun, the best days to observe it in Spain will be October 12 and 13, when it will pass close to the Earth. The comet will be visible even to the naked eye. It will look like a blurry star with a tail trailing behind it in the sky. The best time to observe it is from 5 to 7 am.

• Observe the «comet of the century» is recommended in places with low light pollution, away from large cities. The site National Geographic presented a list of the best locations in Spain, where you can admire this celestial phenomenon:
• Comarca Pinares (Soria, Castile and Leon), where you can find natural viewing platforms. The best ones are Mirador de la Galiana, Laguna Negra and Cañón del Río Lobos.
• Gredos Regional Park, where astronomy enthusiasts can climb up to the glacial cirque in the central part of the northern slope of the Gredos mountain range and spend the night in the open air.
• The island of Menorca is the only one of the Balearic Islands recognized as a starlight reserve. The best place for astronomical observations is Monte Toro mountain.
• Ager (Lleida) is considered the astronomical center of Catalonia thanks to the Mosec mountain range, where the astronomical complex of the same name is located.
• Roque de los Muchachos on the island of La Palma, home to Spain’s most famous observatory. The natural observation decks here offer a unique view of the sky.
• The comarca of Gudar Javalambre (Teruel, Aragon) is famous for its perfectly clear skies, especially in the municipality of Mora de Rubelos.
• Fuerteventura, despite its reputation as a resort, is also a great place to observe the night sky. The area of the Corralejo Natural Park, with its low light pollution, is ideal for astronomical observations.

Although the comet will be visible to the naked eye, it is better to bring a small telescope or binoculars to see more details in the structure of its tail.

 

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Photo from pixabay.com