I Just Saw And Photographed The Comet — Here’s How You Can Too

Comet C/2023 A3 Tsuchinshan–ATLAS captured in a photo from Cardiff, Wales, on October 12, 2024. Image courtesy of Jamie Carter (WhenIsTheNextEclipse.com).

Last night, I spotted and took pictures of the Tsuchinshan-ATLAS comet (C/2023 A3).

After escaping the bright sunlight, Friday, October 11, marked the first opportunity for people in the northern hemisphere to catch a glimpse of it around 45 minutes post-sunset (you can find your local sunset time here). I headed to a spot where I could view the low western horizon, right where the sun had just dipped below the edge. For about half an hour, I scanned the horizon with my binoculars, but the thick cloud cover in that area forced me to concede defeat and return home.

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"How To Spot And Capture The Comet Tonight"

I returned to the same spot at the same time on Saturday, October 12. This time, I found it much simpler since the comet was rising. From my research, I learned that it was positioned directly west, situated along an imaginary diagonal line between two brilliant celestial objects: the planet Venus in the southwest and the bright star Arcturus located high in the west-northwest. Arcturus is the bottom star in the Y-shaped pattern of stars that make up the constellation Boötes.

It will be positioned about 4 to 8 degrees higher than the western horizon, depending on your location.

Inside The Comet: A Visual Journey

This time, I spotted it in just about a minute of scanning the sky with binoculars. I wasn't able to see it without them, but someone I was watching with could.

Upon noticing the comet and its subtle tail, I quickly grabbed my camera. Even though the sky was clear, Tsuchinshan-ATLAS was not only low on the horizon but also descending rapidly as the light of dusk faded. I needed to hurry.

I set up my camera on a tripod, which is really important for this kind of shot. I realized I needed to do a long exposure to properly capture the comet.

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Capturing Comets: Camera And Smartphone Tips

I shot this photo with a DSLR and a 105mm lens, adjusting the settings to ISO 800, an aperture of f4, and a shutter speed of two seconds. The image captures the tail fairly well, although it was hard to spot much of it even when using binoculars.

Within just a couple of minutes, the comet disappeared behind the clouds and, regardless, was rapidly descending below the horizon as the sky grew darker.

If a DSLR camera can capture a comet with a two-second exposure, taking a picture with a smartphone shouldn't be too difficult. Using a tripod is ideal, but if you don’t have one, resting your phone on a stable surface can help minimize movement. Aim to focus on a bright star or the moon. Your smartphone's “night mode” or a similar feature will probably handle the necessary exposure time for you.

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"Don’t Miss Your Chance To See The Comet!"

Are you thinking about heading out tonight to see and capture photos of the comet? Definitely, as the most exciting parts are still ahead!

Tonight, the temperature will rise a few degrees, resulting in a longer period of visibility in the night sky. This trend will continue throughout the rest of the month, but the prime viewing opportunities will be in the next few days—specifically tonight, Monday, October 14, and Tuesday, October 15. These nights are expected to be the most favorable for observing and capturing images of this icy celestial object during its rare visit to the inner solar system, which happens only once every 800 centuries.

Be sure to check my feed every day this week and the next for a daily "comet guide" featuring important sky maps and helpful advice on how to see and capture images of the comet.

Sending you hopes for beautiful weather and a sense of wonder.

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