COMET TSUCHINSHAN-ATLAS VIEWING
Thursday 10 October from 6:45pm to 7:45pm CDT
Friday 11 October from 6:45pm to 8pm CDT
Saturday 12 October from 6:45pm to 8:15pm CDT
Sunday 13 October from 6:45pm to 8:45pm CDT at the Burbank Soccer Complex
For ages six and older. No admission fee.
Binocular strongly recommended.
THE OBJECT’S LOCATION
Comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS) is currently in the constellation Virgo. It will move into Serpens Caput on the morning of the 15th. The comet has been seen from three different locations in the region by members of the Baton Rouge Astronomical Society. There have been no local sightings of the tail without using binoculars.
THE VIEWING
Please remember, comet viewing is always attempted comet viewing. The qualities of a comet apparition (brightness, color, sharpness versus fuzziness) can change drastically over a twenty-four hour period. HRPO personnel will make every valiant attempt to provide a view of the comet’s nucleus and/or its tail.
WHAT TO EXPECT
Current estimates have the comet’s magnitude as between 2.2 and 1.3. This is brighter than the vast majority of comets get, but is an unaided-eye object only in certain portions of the local viewing area due to light pollution, the comet’s low altitude and the waxing Moon. Handheld binoculars are encouraged. The waxing Moon, the planet Venus and visible passes of man-made objects will be available for viewing also.
REGARDING THE BATON ROUGE REGION’S LIGHT POLLUTION Please attend the next meeting of the Light Pollution Committee, which will be at 6pm on Monday 14 October.