Comet watching in Houston this week

Comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS:

Some of the best things in life are wonderful surprises. We first learned about this comet in early 2023, thanks to astronomers at the Purple Mountain Observatory in China (Tsuchinshan means “purple mountain”) and South Africa's Asteroid Terrestrial-Impact Last Alert System (ATLAS). It is pronounced sue-cheen-SHAHN. The comet is aptly named after these two groups – for short it is called C/2023 A3 or simply A3.

Sunday night was the first night people in the Houston area got to see it! The images posted here were sent to our Click 2 Pins page!

How to see Comet A3:

To catch a glimpse of the comet, find an observation site with a clear view to the west – clear of trees, buildings and clouds on the horizon. Try to look about 45 minutes after sunset. The comet will be positioned between the planet Venus and the bright star Arcturus, almost exactly halfway between them. If you have binoculars, they will improve your viewing experience. Every evening after the 14th, the comet moves slightly to the upper left. It may become easier to spot as it gets darker. However, keep in mind that the comet is also fading.

A precise schedule:

This is from my friend Tony Rice. “The following table is calculated for Houston, with comet rise and set times and an indication of how high above the horizon the comet will be at sunrise/sunset and dawn/twilight. Smaller distance values ​​are better (brighter), larger elongation values ​​(angular distance from the sun) are better (less likely to get lost in the sun's glare). Higher elevation values ​​(higher above the tree line) are better (easier to see). The visibility column is based on stretch. Have fun chasing comets.”

What is a Comet:

What you see is basically a block of ice. The comet's solid nucleus, the source of its spectacle, is essentially a dirty space iceberg, probably only a few kilometers wide. It traveled from the cold, dark regions of the outer solar system and originated in a region known as the Oort Cloud. As the comet approaches the heat of the sun, some of the ice in its core, frozen carbon dioxide and other volatiles evaporate. This creates a haze of sunlit dust and glowing gas that forms the comet's visible head and streaming tail, which can stretch for millions of kilometers.

If you receive images, please share them with me at www.click2houston.com/pins or email me at [email protected].