2024 Comet C/2023 A3 (ATLAS) Photography Contest
This October, AAPOD2.com is excited to launch a thrilling comet photography contest! From October 1 to October 31, submit your most stunning images of comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan–ATLAS) for a chance to win big. One talented astrophotographer will walk away with a 30% discount on the incredible QHY268 mono cooled camera, valued at $2399 – that's a $720 prize!
Comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan–ATLAS) will be best visible from North America in the pre-dawn sky, rising in the eastern horizon throughout October. Look for it near the constellations Leo and Virgo as it approaches the sun. This is a prime opportunity to capture the comet at its brightest, with clear skies offering the best chance for amazing shots.
Submit your images through our regular AAPOD2 Image Submissions page, and be sure to select the new checkbox, "Enter me in the comet contest." By entering, you're also still eligible to be featured as a daily winner! The contest winner will be revealed on November 1, 2024!
Yes, for most of North America, the visibility timeline and conditions for observing Comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan–ATLAS) will be quite similar to what I've described for Florida, with some slight variations depending on latitude and local conditions. Here's how it will look for the rest of North America:
General Visibility Timeline (for North America):
Late September to Early October 2024: Comet C/2023 A3 should become visible under dark skies, with optimal visibility in the early morning before dawn. It will be located in the eastern sky in the constellation Leo.
Mid to Late October 2024: The comet is expected to brighten significantly and may become visible to the naked eye in clear, dark skies.
Time of Visibility:
From October 1 to October 15, 2024: In most of North America, the best viewing time will be around 4:00 AM to 6:00 AM local time, just before sunrise, when the comet is above the eastern horizon.
From Mid to Late October 2024: The comet should rise earlier in the morning, around 3:30 AM to 5:30 AM, and will be higher in the sky, making it easier to spot in the east-northeast.
Variations by Latitude:
Southern U.S. (e.g., Florida, Texas, Southern California): The comet will rise slightly earlier and appear slightly higher above the horizon during the peak viewing times.
Northern U.S. and Canada: The comet will rise later in the night and be a bit lower in the sky during the earlier part of October, but this difference will become less noticeable as the month progresses.
In general, the comet's path and timing will be similar across North America, with the best viewing windows being pre-dawn and in the east-northeast sky for everyone. However, exact local rise times and altitudes can vary slightly due to latitude, so using an astronomy app like Stellarium, SkySafari, or checking a star chart for your location can give you more precise details.
