Discovered in January 2023, the comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS) seems to be promising bright comet of 2024 (and very likely one of the brightest of last decades). I was also lucky to see this one with about 1-kilometer-sized nucleus, which can be considered as not so big, but also not that small among other known comets. Its path nearby the Sun (with perihelion of 27th September 2024) and the Earth then (with perigee on 12th October 2024) brought several truly unusual moments in the sky. For most of the images, I used Optolong Clear Sky filter.
29th October 2024
Pool View of the Comet
What is the lady by the pool looking at? Well, there is a lot. In this image, taken on 29 October 2024, from a pool by villa at Soneva Jani island, Maldives, the sky appears almost naturally dark despite the light pollution from distant islands. And thanks to that, the view offers most of the brightest part of the Milky Way, setting over the western horizon along with upright-directed Zodiacal Light. While invisible to the naked eyes, the camera also captured pink hydrogen nebulae in our Galaxy, especially the ones in the Swan constellation in the upper right corner. Of course, the most interesting is the object in the center: the dimming, but still bright comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan–ATLAS) that night. Canon Ra, Sigma 35mm, f2.0, ISO 5000, panorama of 58 single 13s exposures from tripod.
27th October 2024
Fast Comet, Fast Barnard Star
Both are visibly moving in the sky, the comet and the star. The comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan–ATLAS) is now on its route further away from Earth and dimming. And still offers unique photo-opps for astrophotographers. One occured on 27 October 2024, when the comet’s tail just projected in front of the radially fastest star in the sky and the closest single star to the Sun, the Barnard’s star. Located less than 6 light-years from Earth, it travels through the Galaxy with a speed of 90 km/s, and during a lifetime it changes its position with roughly half the angular diameter of the full Moon in the sky. And the comet? It moves a little bit slower, but also very quickly – every day several million kilometers from us. So two truly speedy celestial objects in one view! Taken on platform of So Starstruck observatory, Soneva Fushi, Maldives, used Canon Ra, Tamron 70-200@200, f2.8, ISO5000, 79x20s, tracked on Vixen Polarie U, Optolong Clear Sky filter.
Fast Comet, Fast Barnard Star – Annotated
24th October 2024
Comet over Tropical Observatory
As the comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan–ATLAS) it is unstoppably leaving the inner part of the Solar System, unfortunately becoming an increasingly less prominent object. Taken at a specific location on the island of Soneva Fushi in the Maldives, this image shows the comet, as it descends with the Milky Way over the island’s jungle, dominated by the small dome of the So Celestial Public Observatory. It was on that evening that visitors to the observatory could really get enough of seeing the comet. Thanks, comet, for the beautiful show! Panorama: Canon Ra, Sigma 50mm, f1.8, ISO5000, 52 single 8s exposures from tripod; Comet: Same camera and lens, f1.8, ISO 2500, 28x20s, tracked on Vixen Polarie U, used Optolong Clear Sky filter.
C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan–ATLAS) on 24th October, 2024, over Soneva Fushi, Maldives
22nd October 2024
Deep Sky Comet
As the comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS moves slowly in front of the Milky Way while the Moon doesn’t interfere with its light, a great photo opportunity comes for everybody with a clear, dark sky. I also tried this challenge to capture the long tail of the comet accompanied by the gems of the night sky near the central part of the Milky Way, which I did from sandbank nearby Soneva Fushi island. Nebulae like M8-Lagoon, M17-Omega, or the vivid Rho Ophiuchi region can be seen in this wide-depth view. The brightest object in the image is the planet Venus in the Scorpius constellation. I want to acknowledge Mahdi Zamani for his incredible work on the color correction of this image.
Comet: Canon Ra, Sigma 50mm, f1.4, 47x20s, ISO1600 (tail), 23x10s (head). Foreground: Canon Ra and Sigma 50mm (f2.8, ISO 6400, 70x30s stacked for a panel of 8 segments of panorama, Optolong Clear Sky) was used, tracked on Vixen Polarie U. To reveal the Rho Ophiuchi nebulae, I used Astronomik H-alpha and OIII narrowband filters as well, with Canon 6D modified and the same lens (and settings); data partly taken sooner.
21st October 2024
The Comet from the Paradise
Here comes a shot I consider the most amazing moment with the comet C/2023 A3 Tsuchinshan-ATLAS. Watching from a small island Soneva Fushi of Maldives, I enjoyed this view on 21 October 2024. The comet from equatorial locations shows its tail in almost an upright direction just to the northern summer part of the Milky Way. That evening, also the airglow was strong and some bioluminescence appeared in the Indian Ocean which made the photograph even more vivid. Hope you will like the view. Canon Ra, Sigma 50mm, f1.8, ISO5000, panorama of 58 single 8s exposures from tripod. Comet enhanced with 12x30s images (ISO1600, f1.6, tracked on Vixen Polarie U, used Optolong Clear Sky filter).
20th October 2024
Maldivian View of Tsuchinshan–ATLAS
Yes, equator. And yes, truly amazing. Last days I traveled in the Indian Ocean (Soneva Fushi) for new stargazing experience including the comet Tsuchinshan–ATLAS photography and I don’t regret despite the weather forecast for Slovakia was still so good. This image is from tomorrow, when absolutely tired after long haul I made at least one try for comet shooting before I went sleep. The comet appears just above palm trees and its tail in the dark sky is just so epic. Even if the comet is fainter, it is still SO GREAT VIEW! Canon Ra, Tamron 70-200mm/70mm, f2.8, ISO 2500, 20x20s tracked on Vixen Polarie U.
Soneva’s View of Tsuchinshan–ATLAS
Soneva’s View of Tsuchinshan–ATLAS (Cut)
As the comet Tsuchinshan–ATLAS moves to the Milky Way and evenings are moonless, it becomes incredibly photogenic. I was lucky on 20th October 2024, with the weather over Maldivian Island Soneva Fushi, from where the comet appeared over the emerald lagoon and the brightest part of our Galaxy, both over the so-called “Out of the Blue” ocean restaurant (left). From equatorial places, the comet’s tail goes almost upright and is truly long despite the comet itself dimming as it moves further away from Earth. One of the unforgettable moments with this comet, indeed! Canon Ra, Sigma 50mm, f1.4, ISO 5000, panorama of 72 single 6s exposures, comet enhanced from 20x20s stack (ISO 2500, tracked on Vixen Polarie U).
A Snapshot of the Comet Tsuchinshan–ATLAS
18th October 2024
The Long Tail of the Comet Tsuchinshan–ATLAS
Despite the comet Tsuchinshan–ATLAS is on its route away from Earth, its tail is still remarkably long. Yesterday, 18 October 2024, I took this shot from Záhradné, Slovakia, as the comet moved over Lysa Straz hill with its Autumn colors illuminated by the rising Moon. I was surprised by how long the tail was even to the naked eyes during the moonlight. Also, in photographs, the blue tint of its ion part can be visible. So, in the next few days, when the Moon stops interfering with is light after dusk, we will probably still have truly nice views of the comet. Used Canon Ra, Sigma 50mm, f2.8, ISO1600, 6s exposure; inner part of the comet taken with Tamron 70-200@200mm, f2.8, ISO1600, 43x10s from Vixen Polarie U.
17th October 2024
Great Comet over UNESCO Castle
On 17th October 2024, the Full Moon was the brightest of the whole year. However, many people focused their view on the other part of the sky, where the comet C/2023 A3 Tsuchinshan-ATLAS was visible despite the strong moonlight. I used the natural light to capture the comet from a spot close to UNESCO’s Spiš Castle in eastern Slovakia. As the castle is so photogenic, especially in the Autumn colors, it offered just perfect composition with the long-tail comet. Now the Moon slowly disappears from the evening sky so the comet could be even more beautiful, especially from places away from light pollution. Canon Ra, Sigma 50mm, f1.6, ISO250, 56x13s, tracked on the comet with Vixen Polarie U, 8 exposures frozen on the ground.
16th October 2024
A Comet Hits the Observatory
Together with great astrophotographer Tomas Slovinsky, we combined our data of a unique moment: The comet C/2023 A3 Tsuchinshan-ATLAS’s antitail seemingly hits Lomnický Štít Observatory of High Tatras, Slovakia in the moonlight. On the bottom left, you can also spot the dome of Skalnaté Pleso Observatory. At both observatories, Czechoslovakian astronomers discovered several other comets in the 40s and 50s of the last century, including 45P/Honda-Mrkos-Pajdusakova. A closer look at the comet also reveals the tail is slightly bluish on its left side as the ion tail starts to be projected from the dust tail. Used Canon Ra, Tamron 70-200@135mm, f2.8, ISO 400, 56x8s, Vixen Polarie U (comet), Sony A7III modified, 85mm, f1.4, ISO 400, 2s exposures, Skywatcher Star Adventurer (foreground).
Full Moon Comet over High Tatras
Today the Moon appears in the sky as the brightest Full Moon of the year since it is a perigee Moon. It is about 30 percent brighter than the apogee Moon, thus the night is expected to be bright, and not many dim objects can be observable. However, the currently well-visible comet C/2023 A3 Tsuchinshan-ATLAS made another record as it was visible despite the bright Moon. I used the Full Moon’s light to illuminate the little bit hazy High Tatras mountains in Slovakia beautifully and travel to a precisely chosen place near Spisska Bela, from where the comet was setting just over the mountains. In fact, in the highest visible summit in the image, right from the comet’s head, you can spot a small shining pearl–the Lomnicky Stit Observatory. Used Canon 6D Baader BCF modified, Sigma Art 50mm, f1.4, ISO400, 41x6s (stacked on stars with frozen ground), tripod.
Peaks to be visible in upper image. Source: PeakFinder.com
15th October 2024
C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS) and its antitail on 15 October 2024
Moon makes the comet C/2023 A3 Tsuchinshan-ATLAS little bit worse visible (just for a while – 2 days), but definitely it is still very photogenic! Here are some shots I took nearby Svit, Slovakia, using 85mm, 50mm, Canon Ra, ISO 400, f2.0 (first one stacked from 50x8s exposures with 85mm, second is a panorama of same single exposures with 50mm).
C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS) over Svit, Slovakia, by the moonlight
14th October 2024
Great Comet 2024
By definition, the great comets in history were truly bright, with long tails, easily visible and historically recognizable. Well, the comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS) might be the next one almost for sure. Yesterday, on October 14th, 2024, I made this picture over Roztoky, eastern Slovakia just when the moonlight of a nearly Full Moon illuminated the Autumn colored distant hills of Stebnicka Magura, Ostriež, Kaštielik or Javorina and couldn’t just believe how bright the comet was and how long tail was visible event with its anti-tail.
Peaks to be visible in upper image. Source: PeakFinder.com
For the upper image used Canon Ra, Samyang 85mm, f1.4, ISO 500, panorama of 43 single 8s exposures, comet is result of 50x8s stacked image, tracked on Vixen Polarie U.
The Great and the Small Comets
As C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan–ATLAS) becomes to be incredibly well visible as Great Comet 2024, maybe something can be missed. Just so close to the majestic tail of this comet, photographers can also reveal the faint 13P/Olbers on its goodbye route. I captured today over Roztoky, Slovakia, both comets in one. For better identification, an annotated version is also attached. Canon Ra, Samyang 85mm, f1.4, ISO 500, 50x8s, tracked on Vixen Polarie U.
The Great and the Small Comets – Annotated
The Big Comet 2024 – Enhanced
13th October 2024
Comet C/2023 A3 Tsuchinshan-ATLAS over Liptovska Mara
I cannot stop enjoying the comet C/2023 A3 Tsuchinshan-ATLAS every new evening when it appears brighter and bigger in the evening sky! This evening, I drove over 300 km to get a clear view of the comet, and such a spot I found on the shore of Slovakian lake Liptovska Mara. The clouds were thick and the moonlight stronger than yesterday, but the short moment when the comet appeared in the small window, was truly dramatic and unforgettable. I couldn’t even believe how bright and long the tail was. It was actually very windy and clouds were moving very quickly, I believe the dramatic moment of the short view to the comet can be felt from the image 🙂 Used Canon Ra, Samyang 85mm, f1.4, ISO 500, 1s (single shot), tripod.
Comet C/2023 A3 Tsuchinshan-ATLAS over Liptovska Mara with a Houseboat
12th October 2024
This evening I decided for Lysá mount (alt. 1 067 meters) nearby Sabinov, Slovakia. At the sunset time, it felt impossible to capture the comet because of clouds. But they miraculously dissipated just about 15 minutes later. Only very distant cirrus clouds were slowly getting closer. Still, circumstances truly good enough not only to capture the comet, but even to see it with naked eyes! Yes, I saw clearly the comet’s head plus its brightest part of tail, about 3 degrees of it. What a beautitul view! In the image, you can also spot distant High Tatra mountains just on right, below the clouds. Used Canon 6D Baader modified, Tamron 70-200mm/135mm, f2.8, ISO 2000, 30x1s, tripod.
Beautiful dusk Comet C/2023 A3 Tsuchinshan-ATLAS
11th October 2024
Dusk Comet C/2023 A3 Tsuchinshan-ATLAS
Here comes the comet C/2023 A3 Tsuchinshan-ATLAS, just in the dusk of the northern hemisphere. From today on, the comet should start to be easier to observe despite the moonlight, and it will most likely bring spectacular cometary views within a week. I took this shot just some 45 minutes after sunset. The comet was easily observable through the 7×50 binoculars even only 2.5 degrees above the horizon, where the clouds dissipated when observing from Tulčík, Slovakia. Used Canon Ra, Tamron 70-200mm/200mm, f2.8, ISO 400, 1/5s from tripod.
Dusk Comet C/2023 A3 Tsuchinshan-ATLAS – crop
9th October 2024
Daytime comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS) on 9 October 2024 from Bratislava, Slovakia
I was lucky in Bratislava, Slovakia, as around 14:30 UTC was truly clear sky after a rainy front (very windy, very unique visibility). The processing was, however, same insanity like day before, but this time a building helped instead of a solar filter. Note, the comet *WAS NOT* visible to the naked eyes (I tried binoculars, nothing), and it *WAS NOT* to be possible to extract it from one frame. This is result of stacking of 48 fast subsequent exposures (200mm, f2.8), used median/mean and darkframes again (to avoid wrong identification with another air-flying object or sensor imperfection), hard dehazing, hours of processing for this small hazy stain. Used Canon Ra, tracked on Sun.
8th October 2024
The Sun and the Comet
OK, I went totally manually and math-processing old school today on 8th October from Lokca, Slovakia. Using a circular handmade Baader Astrossolar filter I blocked the Sun and moved to the completely left edge of the 200mm field of view. Then I took 62 extremely fast subsequent exposures 1/6400, f2.8, ISO 100 (tracked on Sun) which I stacked by median/mean to avoid any other object flying in the view (especially spider threads flying through the air, which is typical of this central European season) and reduce the digital noise. Darkframes were taken and applied too. As a side effect of using the filter, you can see the big sunspots too. Note, the comet was invisible to the naked eye and too faint in one frame. It is extremely enhanced from the stacked data and the core is 50 percent sharpened. On the second note – we had incredibly clear air today in Slovakia with a minimum of dust and humidity. Only fast-moving clouds were in the sky (I cannot determine whether the tail is truly a tail or only part of the cirrus cloud). I believe this is crucial for such result too. Anyway, give it a try, good luck and be careful! Used Canon Ra and Tamron 70-200mm (set to 200 mm).
The Sun and the Comet – annotated
29th September 2024
This morning I succeeded with photography of the Comet C/2023 A3 Tsuchinshan–ATLAS from the Czech Republic (50 degrees north) again. Comet brightens rapidly and its tail can be captured even against the bright dawn. This shot, taken near Velke Popovice, is a crop from 200mm telephoto lens shot, however with binoculars the comet was majestic too. Cannot wait for next days, this might be something truly big! Canon Ra, Tamron 70-200mm (200mm), f2.8, ISO 100, 25×1,6s; tracked on Vixen Polarie U.
Cometrise over Velke Popovice
25th September 2024
Can you find the comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS)? In this extreme HDR of this morning dusk, I revealed it from data taken near Kovářov, Czech Republic (yes, 49,8 N). Even if almost invisible, the tail is enhanced from 15 exposures (15x1s, ISO 200). Comet was completely invisible to the naked eyes, or binoculars, during taking this shot it was 2-3 degrees over the horizon after the end of astronomical twilight. Used Canon Ra, Tamron 70-200mm@200mm. The foreground is taken as HDR (1, 4, and 8 seconds, ISO 100). Truly challenging, but officially can confirm it IS possible to capture it from the northern hemisphere, even if with advanced processing to reveal it. I believe the next days should be better and better.
C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan–ATLAS) on 25 September 2024 from Kovarov, Czech Republic (cut with comet)
4th May 2024
Comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS) is slowly approaching the Sun from the far reaches of the Solar System. The so far inconspicuous cometary beauty only shows a conspicuous dusty tail in larger telescopes as it flies through the eastern half of the constellation Virgo. But everything will change (or could change) this fall, when this particular comet may reach high brightness and become the brightest comet in decades. Fingers crossed! This image I took yesterday on a 200mm telephoto lens from Záhořice, Czech Republic.
Little Big Comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS)
The image is from yesterday (May 4, around 22 UTC), captured with Canon Ra and Tamron 200mm, f2.8, ISO 4000, 17x2mins on EQ-5 mount. Still not for smaller telephoto lenses, but getting more and more beautiful. I would like to thank Radim Strycharski for his support during this observation.
