Stargazers alert - Comet C/2023 A3: Once-in-a-80,000 year celestial event visible this weekend
Comet C/2023 A3 has returned to Earth’s skies after 80,000 years, promises spectacular sky show
Comet C/2023 A3, also known as Tsuchinshan-ATLAS, is making a rare and breathtaking return to Earth's skies after an astonishing 80,000-year journey around the Sun. From Friday through Monday, early risers will have the unique opportunity to catch a glimpse of this celestial wonder in the early morning sky.
According to BBC Sky at Night Magazine, Comet C/2023 A3 completes its orbit every 80,000 years, making this an extraordinarily rare event for stargazers. The comet is expected to become a prominent object in the morning sky by late September 2024, shining brightly at a magnitude of +0.6 just before sunrise. The comet will reach its closest point to the Sun, known as perihelion, on September 28, 2024. As it ascends into the evening sky around October 10, observers can anticipate slightly dimmer views, with the comet predicted to shine at a magnitude of +0.8.
NASA astronaut Matthew Dominick, currently stationed aboard the International Space Station, shared a mesmerizing video of the comet on social media. In his post, he described the comet as appearing like "a fuzzy star" when viewed with the naked eye from the ISS's cupola windows. However, using a 200mm f/2 lens with a 1/8s exposure, Dominick captured more detailed images, showcasing the comet's potential for stunning visuals as it draws closer to the Sun.
Amateur astronomer Stuart Atkinson from Cumbria also provided insights into what viewers can expect. He noted on social media that the comet would resemble "a fuzzy star with a misty tail" positioned low in the eastern sky beneath the Moon. Atkinson suggested that using binoculars could enhance the viewing experience, offering a more detailed look at this once-in-a-lifetime celestial event.
Don't miss the chance to witness this extraordinary astronomical phenomenon as Comet C/2023 A3 graces our skies for the first time in millennia.
So far Comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS looks like a fuzzy star to the naked eye looking out the cupola windows. But with a 200mm, f2 lens at 1/8s exposure you can really start to see it. This comet is going to make for some really cool images as it gets closer to the sun. For now a… pic.twitter.com/JstaSLJ4Ui
— Matthew Dominick (@dominickmatthew) September 19, 2024
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Belagavi: Miscreants break into house, stab pregnant woman
Belagavi: Miscreants reportedly broke into a house and stabbed a pregnant woman to death using a knife, in Chikkuda village of Athani taluk here on Sunday.
The deceased pregnant woman has been identified as Suvarna Mantaiah Mathapathy (35) of Chikkuda village. Suvarna was a mother of four daughters and was expecting her fifth child. She was due to give birth within the week, with the delivery date already scheduled by her doctor.
The incident reportedly occurred on Saturday when Suvarna's husband went to the plantation to fetch fodder for the cows, and their children were at school. During this time, the attackers broke into the house and struck Suvarna with a sharp weapon, and later fled the scene.
When her husband returned and called for her, Suvarna did not respond. Upon entering the house, he found his pregnant wife lying in a pool of blood. He rushed her to a nearby private hospital, but the doctor confirmed that she had died on the way due to her severe injuries.
The exact reason for the murder is yet to be ascertained. Meanwhile, a case in connection with the incident has been lodged at the Athani Police Station.
