oh la la #comet

COMET AND THE EIFFEL TOWER: Comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS (C/2023 A3) is approaching the sun where most comets would be impossible to photograph. However, Tsuchinshan-ATLAS is not like most comets. Yesterday, French photographer Gwenael Blanck had no trouble capturing the comet over the tip of the Eiffel Tower:

"I first tried to take this picture on Sept. 28th, but I could barely see the comet," says Blanck. "It has brightened since then, so my attempt on Oct. 4th as a success. It wasn't visible to the naked eye, but was obvious on the camera screen and with binoculars."

The comet was about 15 degrees from the sun on Oct. 4th when Blanck photographed it. The distance is rapidly shrinking. At closest approach on Oct. 9th, Tsuchinshan-ATLAS will be only 4 degrees from the sun, so close that it could be dangerous to point cameras and telescopes at the comet.

Pro tip: Stand in the shadow of a building, blocking the sun but not the comet. Tsuchinshan-ATLAS could be bright enough to see in broad daylight like Comet McNaught in 2007.

X-ray Solar Flares
6-hr max: C9 0504 UT Oct06
24-hr: M2 2320 UT Oct05

https://spaceweather.com/