A Colombian captured the “comet of the century”: it will be visible at the turn of September and October
Astrophotographer and Interstellar Orion Camp Director Mario Vargas managed to capture comet C/2023 A3, better known as the ‘Comet of the Century’, using his technological equipment.
According to Vargas, The images were taken after a night of perfect skies in the heart of the Tatacoa desert, at Orion Interstellar Camp, Huila. In an interview with Timethe expert indicated: “One of my favorite objects is comets. You will probably only see them once in your life. The thrill of not only capturing it on camera, but even better seeing it with your own eyes through binoculars, is indescribable.”
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Vargas assured that in Colombia you will be able to enjoy the brightness of the comet at the turn of September and October. “It will be a great opportunity to make Colombians fall in love with the wonders that the universe gives us,” he added. The director explained that the “comet of the century” had already developed a “beautiful cometary tail”.
“After passing close to the Sun, at a distance similar to the orbit of Mercury, the coma of dust and ice C/2023 A3 will heat up considerably,” explained the specialist, emphasizing that “as the ice particles evaporate, they quickly escape into space and carry with them a large amount of dust , which spreads out in a long bright tail. Comets that pass close to the Sun have the most impressive tails, formed shortly after being “sublimated” by the Sun’s heat. And that is the case of Comet C/2023 A3! “It will be the most visible comet in the sky in 2024.”
National University professor Santiago Vargas explained The event has created a lot of anticipation as it is expected to be very brilliant. The teacher assures that comets are icy remnants of the formation of the solar system more than 4.5 billion years ago.
“Made mostly of ice, dust and frozen gases, these space travelers spend most of their lives in the outermost regions of the solar system, such as the Kuiper belt or the distant Oort cloud, a distant place where comets ‘sleep’. peacefully. There they remain in the dark until something interrupts them and they are catapulted towards the sun, thus beginning their great adventure,” Vargas emphasized.
The heat vaporizes the icy core as it approaches the Sun, creating a diffuse atmosphere known as a coma. “The solar wind and radiation cause some of this material to form long, bright tails that can reach millions of kilometers in length. It is precisely this image that has fascinated mankind for millennia, and thanks to which they are perceived as stars with long hair,” he explained.
Keep in mind that the visibility of a comet depends on several factors, including its trajectory, brightness, local weather conditions, and light pollution in the viewing area. For a comet like this, the best viewing is usually achieved under certain conditions and in certain locations.
The visibility of the “comet of the century” will depend on the latitude from which it is located. Maps and forecasts are generally published to determine whether it will be more visible from the northern or southern hemisphere. For example, Comets like Hale-Bopp were best seen from the Northern Hemisphere.
Before observing an important comet, it is always advisable to follow the recommendations of astronomers and check predictions about its visibility and the optimal dates for its observation, as well as consult applications or websites specialized in astronomy that offer maps of the sky as a guide for observations.